'apodousness' originates from Greek, specifically the element 'apous' (from the prefix 'a-' meaning 'without' and 'pous' meaning 'foot'), with the English suffix '-ness' forming a noun.

'apodousness' was formed in English by combining the Greek-derived adjective 'apodous' (itself from Greek 'apous' or via New Latin/Modern coinage) with the native English suffix '-ness' to create the noun 'apodousness'.

Initially it meant 'without feet' in the literal anatomical sense, and over time it has retained that core meaning; the term is mainly used in biological and descriptive contexts.