'jackal-headed' originates from modern English as a compound of 'jackal' + 'headed'. 'jackal' itself comes into English via Italian and French from Turkish/Arabic and ultimately Persian; 'head' comes from Old English 'heafod' meaning 'head'.

'jackal' passed into English from Italian 'sciacallo' and Old French 'chacal', from Turkish/Arabic 'šaqāl' / 'shaqal', ultimately from Persian 'šaghāl' meaning 'jackal'. The compound 'jackal-headed' developed in English by combining 'jackal' with the adjective-forming 'headed' (from Old English 'heafod').

Initially the components referred directly to the animal ('jackal') and to the body-part ('head'); 'jackal-headed' was used literally (e.g., descriptions of Egyptian deities such as Anubis). Over time it has remained largely literal but can also be used figuratively to describe imagery or figures resembling a jackal's head.