'anecdysis' originates from Greek, specifically the prefix 'an-' meaning 'not' and 'ekdysis' meaning 'a getting out' or 'shedding'.

'anecdysis' was formed in modern scientific English by combining the Greek elements 'an-' and 'ekdysis', and has been used in zoological contexts since the 19th century.

Initially, it meant 'the period of not shedding', and this meaning has remained specific to zoological usage.