'adenoidal' originates from the Greek word 'adēn,' meaning 'gland,' combined with the suffix '-oid,' meaning 'resembling or like.'

'adēn' transformed into the French word 'adénoïde,' and eventually became the modern English word 'adenoidal.'

Initially, it referred to anything resembling a gland, but over time it evolved to describe a nasal quality in the voice.