'ascaris' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'askaris', where 'askaris' meant 'intestinal worm'.

'ascaris' came into scientific and medical usage via Latin (and medieval Latin) from the Greek 'askaris', and eventually entered modern English as 'ascaris'.

Initially, it meant 'intestinal worm' in Greek, and over time it evolved into the modern scientific use referring to the genus of parasitic roundworms (and members of that genus).