'arthropodal' originates from New Latin/Greek roots, specifically the Greek elements 'arthron' (from which arthr- is derived) and 'pous' (Greek 'pód-/'pod-'), where 'arthr-' meant 'joint' and 'pod-' meant 'foot'.

'arthropodal' developed from the New Latin taxonomic name 'Arthropoda' (coined for the phylum of jointed-legged animals), which yielded the English noun 'arthropod'; the adjective was later formed by adding the suffix '-al' to create 'arthropodal'.

Initially the components literally meant 'joint' + 'foot' ('joint-footed'); over time the term evolved to mean 'relating to arthropods' in biological and descriptive contexts.