'pre-pygidial' originates from Latin and Greek, specifically the Latin prefix 'pre-' (from 'prae') meaning 'before' and the Greek 'pygidion' (diminutive of 'pyge') meaning 'little rump' or 'rear'.

'pre-pygidial' developed by combining the prefix 'pre-' with the Neo-Latin/Greek-derived noun 'pygidium' (from Greek 'pygidion'); the adjective form 'pygidial' arose from 'pygidium', and scientific usage produced the compound 'pre-pygidial' in modern entomological and anatomical contexts.

Originally, Greek 'pygidion' referred to a 'little rump' (a diminutive of 'pyge'); over time the term was Latinized to 'pygidium' and specialized in anatomy/entomology to refer to the terminal segment, and the compound 'pre-pygidial' came to mean 'located before that terminal segment'.