'ambulacrum' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'ambulācrum,' where 'ambulā-' meant 'to walk' and '-crum' was a suffix used to form nouns.

'ambulācrum' transformed into the modern English word 'ambulacrum' through direct borrowing from Latin.

Initially, it meant 'a place for walking,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a radial band or groove on echinoderms.'