'autocoid' originates from Modern Latin/medical coinage, ultimately from Greek elements 'autos' and 'eidos', where 'autos' meant 'self' and 'eidos' meant 'form' or 'likeness'.

'autocoid' changed from earlier variant 'autacoid' and other Neo-Latin coinages in the early 20th century and eventually became the modern English word 'autocoid'.

Initially, it meant 'a substance produced in tissues that acts locally', and over time it has retained this specialized meaning in pharmacology and physiology.