'myrmeleontid' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Myrmeleontidae', where Greek 'myrmēx' meant 'ant' and Greek 'leon' meant 'lion'.

'myrmeleontid' changed from the New Latin word 'Myrmeleontidae' and eventually became the modern English word 'myrmeleontid' used to refer to members of that insect family.

Initially, it meant 'a member of the genus Myrmeleon or the family Myrmeleontidae (ant-lion)', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a member of the family Myrmeleontidae, commonly called an antlion'.