'ascaricide' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'ascaricida', where 'ascaris' (from Greek 'askaris') meant 'intestinal worm' and the Latin suffix '-cida' (from 'caedere') meant 'to kill'.

'ascaricide' changed from the New Latin word 'ascaricida' used in scientific and medical Latin and was adopted into English as 'ascaricide' by combining 'ascaris' + '-cide'.

Initially it referred specifically to agents that kill ascarids; over time it has remained a specialized term meaning 'a compound that kills roundworms'.