'acontias' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'akontias,' where 'akont-' meant 'dart' or 'javelin,' referring to its slender, elongated shape.

'akontias' was directly borrowed from Greek into modern scientific Latin, maintaining its original form and meaning.

Initially, it referred to a 'dart' or 'javelin' in Greek, but in modern taxonomy, it refers to a genus of legless lizards.