'anoa' originates from Indonesian/Malay, specifically the word 'anoa', where it referred to a local small buffalo native to Sulawesi and nearby islands.

'anoa' was borrowed into English (especially in zoological and natural history contexts) in the 19th century from Indonesian/Malay and local Sulawesi languages, and it entered modern English usage as the name for the species.

Initially it meant the local small buffalo in the source languages, and over time this specific animal name has been retained in English with essentially the same meaning.