'ant-thrush' originates from English, specifically a compound of 'ant' + 'thrush', where 'ant' meant the insect and 'thrush' meant a songbird or similar ground-feeding bird.

'ant-thrush' was formed in Modern English by compounding the word 'ant' (from Old English 'ǣmete' / 'æmete' for the insect) and 'thrush' (from Old English 'þrysce'/'thrysce' for the bird); the modern compound reflects these older elements combined in recent English usage to name the bird.

Initially it referred to a thrush-like bird associated with ants or ant swarms; this specific sense has been retained as the name for certain insectivorous, ground-dwelling birds.