'anonychia' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'a-' and 'onyx', where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'onyx' meant 'nail'.

'anonychia' entered medical vocabulary via New Latin/medical Latin (anonychia), derived from Greek elements, and was adopted into modern English in the same form.

Initially it meant 'without nails' in the original Greek-derived sense, and this basic meaning has been retained in medical usage.