'casuarina' originates from the Malay word 'kasuari,' referring to the cassowary bird, due to the resemblance of the tree's foliage to the bird's feathers.

'kasuari' transformed into the Latinized form 'casuarina' in the 18th century, eventually becoming the modern English word 'casuarina'.

Initially, it referred to the resemblance to cassowary feathers, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.