'alloeostropha' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'alloios,' meaning 'other' or 'different,' and 'strophe,' meaning 'turn' or 'twist.'

'alloios' combined with 'strophe' in Greek to form 'alloeostropha,' which was adopted into English to describe irregular poetic forms.

Initially, it referred to any deviation in form, but over time it became more specific to poetry.