'scarabaeid' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Scarabaeus', where the Greek root 'skarabē-' meant 'scarab (beetle)'.

'scarabaeid' changed from the New Latin genus name 'Scarabaeus' and the family name 'Scarabaeidae' and eventually entered modern English as 'scarabaeid' to denote a member of that family.

Initially it meant 'scarab (a beetle)', but over time it evolved into the current specific meaning of 'a member of the family Scarabaeidae' in scientific English.