'balanid' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Balanus', where the Greek root 'balanos' meant 'acorn'.

'balanid' developed as a modern scientific formation from the New Latin genus name 'Balanus' (coined in Linnaean taxonomy) and the suffix '-id' to denote membership in the family Balanidae, eventually becoming the English noun 'balanid'.

Initially related to the Greek word for 'acorn' (reflecting shape), the term evolved into a taxonomic name for certain barnacles and now means 'a member of the family Balanidae'.