'anguilloid' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'anguilla' meaning 'eel', combined with the Greek-derived suffix '-oid' meaning 'resembling'.

'anguilloid' was formed in scientific English from Latin 'anguilla' plus the Greek-based suffix '-oid', and eventually became the modern English word 'anguilloid'.

Initially, it meant 'resembling an eel', and this sense has remained stable in its current scientific and descriptive usage.