'argillocalcareous' originates from Neo-Latin/compound formation, combining Latin 'argilla' meaning 'clay' and Latin 'calcareus' meaning 'pertaining to lime (calx)'.

'argillaceous' derives from Latin 'argilla' ('clay') via Neo-Latin into English; 'calcareous' comes from Latin 'calx'/'calcareus' through Old French and Middle English into modern English. The compound 'argillocalcareous' was formed in technical/geological usage by joining the two elements.

Initially the roots separately referred to 'clay' and to 'lime/limestone'; over time the compound came to be used in geology and soil science to denote material that contains both clay and calcium carbonate.