'axopodia' originates from New Latin (scientific Latin), specifically the word 'axopodium', where the Greek roots 'axōn' meant 'axis' and 'pous/podos' meant 'foot'.

'axopodia' came into scientific English from New Latin 'axopodium' (formed from Greek roots) and was used in zoological and protozoological descriptions from the 19th century onward; the singular form 'axopodium' and plural 'axopodia' follow classical Latin/Greek pluralization.

Initially described as an 'axis-foot' structure (literally 'axial foot'), the term has remained specialized and now specifically denotes the microtubule-supported radiating pseudopods of certain protists.