'anisopodous' originates from Greek, specifically from the prefix 'anisos' meaning 'unequal' and the root 'pous' (rendered as 'pod-') meaning 'foot'.

'anisopodous' was formed from the Greek elements 'anisos' + 'pous' and entered scientific/Latinized usage (via New Latin formations such as 'anisopodus') before becoming the modern English adjective 'anisopodous'.

Initially, the components literally meant 'unequal foot'; over time this literal sense was preserved in scientific usage to mean 'having unequal feet or foot-like appendages'.