'antorbital' originates from Latin elements, specifically the prefix 'ante-' (from Latin 'ante') meaning 'before' and 'orbita' meaning 'track' or 'orbit (eye socket)'.

'antorbital' was formed in scientific/technical usage (via Neo-Latin/Scientific Latin 'antorbitalis' or similar formations) and entered English as a compound adjective used in anatomy and paleontology to mean 'before the orbit'.

Initially it literally meant 'before the orbit' and over time has remained a technical anatomical term with essentially the same meaning: 'located in front of the eye socket.'