'tapeworm-related' originates from Modern English, specifically the compound of 'tapeworm' + 'related', where 'tapeworm' is formed from English 'tape' (meaning a long, flat strip) + 'worm' (a parasitic or wormlike animal), and 'related' ultimately derives from Latin 'relatus' (past participle of 'referre') meaning 'brought back' or 'connected'.

'tapeworm' was formed in English by combining 'tape' and 'worm' to describe a long, flat parasitic worm; later, in modern English usage, it was compounded with 'related' to create the descriptive adjective 'tapeworm-related'.

Initially, 'tapeworm' described a worm that resembled a tape; 'related' originally carried the notion of 'brought back' or 'referred', but together as 'tapeworm-related' the compound now simply means 'having a connection to tapeworms' or 'caused by tapeworms'.