'anhydroxime' originates from modern chemical nomenclature, combining the prefix 'anhydro-' from Greek 'an-' ('without') + 'hydōr' ('water') with 'oxime,' a term coined in German ('Oxim') from 'oxygen' + 'imine'.

'anhydro-' entered English scientific vocabulary via New Latin in the 19th century, and 'oxime' was introduced in the late 19th century by Victor Meyer; combined, they formed the modern English word 'anhydroxime.'

Initially used to denote a dehydrated form of an oxime, it has been used especially for nitrile oxides in older literature; the sense remains specialized in organic chemistry.