'ailuropus' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ailuros,' meaning 'cat,' and 'pous,' meaning 'foot.'

'Ailuropus' was derived from the Greek words 'ailuros' and 'pous,' and eventually became the modern scientific name for the genus including the red panda.

Initially, it referred to any cat-like creature with distinctive feet, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a specific genus in the family Ailuridae.