'auloi' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'αὐλοί' (auloí), where 'αὐλός' (aulos) meant 'pipe' or 'flute'.

'auloi' changed from the Ancient Greek plural 'αὐλοί' and was transmitted into English via Latin/Neo-Latin scholarship; the modern English form 'auloi' preserves the original Greek plural form.

Initially, it meant 'pipes' (the plural of the Greek 'aulos'), and this basic meaning has been retained in modern usage to refer to multiple ancient Greek wind instruments.