'pamprodactyly' originates from New Latin/scientific coinage ultimately built from Greek elements: 'pan-' (πᾶν) meaning 'all', 'pro-' (πρό) meaning 'forward', and 'dáktylos' (δάκτυλος) meaning 'finger, toe'.

'pamprodactyly' was formed in New Latin/technical usage from the Greek roots 'pan-' + 'pro-' + 'dáktylos' and was adopted into English largely unchanged as a specialized anatomical/ornithological term.

Initially it literally meant 'all-forward-fingered' as a descriptive anatomical compound; over time the term has remained essentially descriptive and is used mainly in ornithology to describe toe arrangement.