'ammocete' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ammos' meaning 'sand' and 'kētos' meaning 'sea monster'.

'ammos' and 'kētos' combined in Greek to form 'ammokētos', which eventually became the modern English word 'ammocete'.

Initially, it referred to a 'sand-dwelling creature', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'larval stage of a lamprey'.