'adelocodonic' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'adelos' meaning 'unseen' and 'kodos' meaning 'bell', referring to the hidden or non-free-swimming nature of the medusa.

'adelocodonic' was directly borrowed from Greek scientific terminology into English.

Initially, it meant 'hidden bell', referring to the medusa's non-free-swimming nature, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.