'aqueoglacial' originates from Latin-derived elements: the combining form 'aqueo-' from Latin 'aqua' meaning 'water', and 'glacial' from Latin 'glacies' meaning 'ice'.

'aqueo-' developed as a scientific combining form based on Latin 'aqua', and 'glacial' comes via Late Latin 'glacialis' (from 'glacies') into modern English; the compound 'aqueoglacial' was coined in scientific usage to describe processes or deposits involving both water and glacier/ice action.

Initially formed as a technical compound to denote 'pertaining to water and ice', it is now used specifically in geology and glaciology to mean 'relating to geological processes or deposits produced or modified by glacial meltwater.'