'apohyal' originates from New Latin, formed from the Greek prefix 'apo-' meaning 'away from' and the element 'hyal' (from Greek relating to the hyoid), used in anatomical terminology.

'apohyal' was coined in modern scientific (New Latin) anatomical literature by combining 'apo-' + 'hyal' and entered English through descriptions of fish morphology and osteology.

Initially it denoted a bony element 'separated from or related to the hyoid region'; over time it retained this specialized anatomical meaning referring to the specific bone in fishes.