'homocercal' originates from New Latin (Late Latin) and Ancient Greek, specifically the elements 'homo-' from Greek 'homos' meaning 'same' and '-cercal' from Greek 'kerkos' meaning 'tail'.

'homocercal' was formed in New Latin as 'homocercalis' and entered English in the late 19th century as a scientific term describing the form of a fish's tail.

Initially, it meant 'having a similar or equal tail' in anatomical descriptions; this core meaning has remained essentially unchanged into modern usage.