'amniote' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'amnion,' where 'amni-' meant 'bowl' or 'lamb' and '-ote' is a suffix used in biology to denote a group.

'amnion' transformed into the modern English word 'amniote' through scientific classification terminology.

Initially, it referred to the membrane surrounding the embryo, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a group of vertebrates with this feature.