'autoneurotoxin' originates from Modern scientific coinage formed by combining Greek elements: 'auto-' (from Greek 'αὐτός') meaning 'self', 'neuro-' (from Greek 'νεῦρον') meaning 'nerve', and 'toxin' (from Greek 'τοξικόν' via Latin 'toxicum') meaning 'poison'.

'autoneurotoxin' is a modern English formation created by joining classical roots. The element 'toxin' itself entered scientific English from Greek τοξικόν through Latin 'toxicum' and French scientific usage; 'neuro-' has been used as a combining form in medical terminology since the 19th century, and 'auto-' as a prefix meaning 'self' has long been productive in coining technical terms.

Initially a literal compound meaning 'self nerve poison', the term has come to denote specifically endogenous neurotoxic substances (often discussed in biomedical contexts) rather than a general poetic phrase.