'anomalurid' originates from New Latin 'Anomaluridae', specifically from the genus name 'Anomalurus', ultimately from Greek 'anomalos' meaning 'uneven, irregular' and 'oura' meaning 'tail'.

'Anomalurus' was formed in modern taxonomic Latin from Greek elements ('anomalos' + 'oura'); the family name 'Anomaluridae' was then coined in New Latin, and English adopted the noun 'anomalurid' to refer to members of that family.

Initially it literally meant 'irregular or odd tail' (from the Greek roots), but over time it became a technical term referring to the specific group of scaly-tailed gliding rodents.