'anisodactyla' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the elements 'anisos' and 'daktylos', where 'anisos' meant 'unequal' and 'daktylos' meant 'finger' (toe); it passed into New Latin as 'anisodactylus'.

'anisodactyla' changed from the New Latin word 'anisodactylus' and eventually became used in modern English scientific and descriptive contexts as 'anisodactyl' or the variant 'anisodactyla' for plural/collective reference.

Initially, the components meant 'unequal finger' in Greek; over time the meaning specialized to refer specifically to a toe arrangement in birds (three toes forward, one back) and to birds with that arrangement.