'apod' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'apous', where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'pous' meant 'foot'.

'apous' passed into New Latin as 'Apoda' (the taxonomic name for legless amphibians, the caecilians) and eventually entered English usage as 'apod' (with plural 'apods').

Initially it meant 'without feet' in a general sense; over time it has been used specifically for members of the order Apoda (caecilians) or more generally for footless animals.