'gastropod' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'gastēr' meaning 'stomach' and 'pous' meaning 'foot'.

'gastropod' was derived from the Greek word 'gastropodos', which was used in scientific Latin as 'gastropoda', eventually becoming the modern English word 'gastropod'.

Initially, it referred to creatures with a 'stomach-foot', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.