'anthracothere' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Anthracotherium', where Greek 'anthrax' meant 'coal' and 'therion' meant 'beast'.

'anthracothere' changed from the New Latin genus name 'Anthracotherium' (coined in the 19th century from Greek elements) and eventually became the English common-name form 'anthracothere' for members of the family Anthracotheriidae.

Initially it literally meant 'coal beast' (a name given to the fossil genus), but over time it evolved into the modern paleontological meaning referring to the extinct group of hippo-like ungulates.