Igama elithi "Dioscorea" libhekisela ohlotsheni lwezitshalo eziqhakazayo eziyingxenye yomndeni we-Dioscoreaceae. Lezi zitshalo zaziwa kakhulu ngokuthi ama-yam futhi zitshalwa izilimo eziyizigaxa ezinesitashi ezisetshenziswa njengomthombo wokudla ezingxenyeni eziningi zomhlaba. Igama elithi "Dioscorea" livela kwelesiGrikhi elithi "dios," elisho "unkulunkulu," nelithi "korea," okusho ukuthi "impande enomsoco."