'chela' (zoological sense) originates from Modern Latin/Neo-Latin 'chela', ultimately from Greek 'khēlē' (χέλη) meaning 'claw'. The sense 'chela' meaning 'disciple' entered English via Hindi-Urdu 'chela' (चेला or چِیلا).

'chela' (from Greek 'khēlē') passed into Late/Modern Latin and was adopted in scientific Latin as 'chela' to denote a claw or pincer; it then entered modern English primarily in scientific and technical contexts. The 'disciple' sense came into English through contact with South Asia during the British colonial period, borrowed directly from Hindi-Urdu.

For the zoological sense, the original meaning 'claw' has been preserved in technical usage. The South Asian sense originally referred to a 'disciple' or 'servant/attendant' in local languages and retained that meaning when borrowed into English.