'artiodactylous' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Artiodactyla', where Greek 'artios' meant 'even' and 'daktulos' meant 'finger' or 'toe'.

'artiodactylous' changed from New Latin 'Artiodactyla' (the scientific name for the order) and was formed into the English adjective by adding the suffix '-ous' in scientific usage (19th century), eventually yielding the modern adjective 'artiodactylous'.

Initially it meant 'belonging to or characteristic of the group Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)'; over time this scientific sense has largely been retained in English as the adjective describing that group or its features.