'amebiasis' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'ameba,' where 'ameba' meant 'change' and '-iasis' indicated a disease condition.

'ameba' transformed into the modern English word 'amebiasis' to describe the disease caused by amoebas.

Initially, it referred to any amoebic infection, but over time it evolved to specifically denote infections by Entamoeba histolytica.