'amphicyon' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'amphikyon', where 'amphi-' meant 'both' and 'kyon' meant 'dog'.

'amphikyon' transformed into the Latin word 'amphicyon', and eventually became the modern English word 'amphicyon'.

Initially, it referred to a mythical creature with characteristics of both a bear and a dog, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a genus of extinct carnivorous mammals.