'snakebird' originates from English, specifically the compound of 'snake' + 'bird', where 'snake' referred to the serpent (used metaphorically for the long, sinuous neck) and 'bird' meant a feathered flying creature.

'snakebird' developed in Modern English as a descriptive compound (likely 19th century) to describe anhingas/darters; the term became established as a common name for these species.

Initially it meant 'a bird with a snake-like neck' as a descriptive phrase, and over time it evolved into the established common name for certain long-necked waterbirds (e.g., anhingas/darters).