'hindfoot' is an English compound formed from 'hind' + 'foot'. 'hind' originates from Old English 'hind', where 'hind' meant 'rear' or 'back'; 'foot' originates from Old English 'fōt', where 'fōt' meant 'foot'.

'hind' developed from Proto-Germanic *hindaz meaning 'rear, behind', and 'foot' developed from Proto-Germanic *fōtuz; the two elements combined in English to form the compound 'hindfoot'.

Initially the compound simply denoted the 'rear foot' of an animal, and its primary meaning has remained that specific anatomical sense in modern usage.