'arvicoline' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Arvicola', where 'arvi-' meant 'field' and '-cola' meant 'dweller'; the English adjective-forming suffix '-ine' (from Latin/Greek) was added to mean 'pertaining to'.

'arvicoline' changed from the Latin word 'Arvicola' (used as a genus name for certain field-dwelling rodents) and through scientific Latin/New Latin formation became the modern English term 'arvicoline'.

Initially it referred to a 'field-dweller' (from Latin 'Arvicola'), but over time it evolved into its modern biological meaning of 'relating to voles, lemmings, and their relatives (the subfamily Arvicolinae)'.