'balistid' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Balistidae', where 'Balistidae' is the family-name formed from 'Balistes' (a genus name) and the suffix '-idae' meaning 'family'.

'balistid' comes via New Latin 'Balistidae' from classical Greek 'balistes' (βαλίστης), meaning 'thrower' or 'slinger'; the taxonomic New Latin form was adapted into English as 'balistid' to denote a member of that family.

Initially, the root referred to 'one who throws' (Greek 'balistes'), but in zoological taxonomy it evolved to denote fishes of the Balistidae family (triggerfishes); the English usage now specifically names members or characteristics of that family.