'ataxy' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ataxia', where 'a-' meant 'not' and 'taxis' meant 'order'.

'ataxia' entered New Latin/medical Latin from Greek 'ataxia', and English later adopted the form 'ataxy' with plural forms such as 'ataxies'.

Initially, it meant 'lack of order' in a general sense, but over time it became specialized in medical usage to mean 'loss of muscular coordination'.