'thamnophilid' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Thamnophilidae', where the Greek roots 'thamnos' meant 'bush' and 'philos' meant 'loving'.

'thamnophilid' changed from the New Latin family name 'Thamnophilidae' (formed from the genus name 'Thamnophilus', from Greek 'thamnos' + 'philos') and eventually became the modern English common-name form 'thamnophilid'.

Initially, it meant 'bush-loving' (a descriptive phrase based on Greek roots), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a bird of the family Thamnophilidae (an antbird)'.