'cephalopod' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'kephalē' meaning 'head' and 'pous' meaning 'foot'.

'kephalopod' transformed into the Latin word 'cephalopoda', and eventually became the modern English word 'cephalopod'.

Initially, it meant 'head-footed', referring to the structure of these creatures, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.