'archipallial' originates from Greek and Latin, specifically the Greek prefix 'arkhi-' (ἄρχι) and the Latin word 'pallium', where 'arkhi-' meant 'chief, principal' and 'pallium' meant 'mantle (cloak)'.

'archipallial' changed from the New Latin anatomical term 'archipallium' (formed from Greek 'arkhi-' + Latin 'pallium'), and the adjective 'archipallial' developed from that noun in anatomical and zoological usage.

Initially it literally combined elements meaning 'chief mantle', but over time it came to mean 'pertaining to the ancient/primary part of the pallium (a brain region)', especially in comparative neuroanatomy.