'anthill' originates from Old English as a compound of 'ant' + 'hill', where 'ant' referred to the insect and 'hill' meant a natural or artificial mound.

'anthill' developed from Old English elements 'ǣmette' (ant) and 'hyll' (hill) into Middle English compound forms like 'ant-hyll' and eventually the modern English 'anthill'.

Initially, it meant literally 'a hill or mound of ants', and over time it has retained that same basic meaning of 'a mound created by ants' in modern usage.