According to "Wakan Sansai Zue," an encyclopedia compiled during the Edo period, Nozuchi was often seen in Natsumi-gawa River and Seimei-daki Waterfall in Yoshino-yama mountain range, and its name originated from its resemblance to a hammer ('tsuchi' or 'zuchi').
江戸時代の百科事典『和漢三才図会』によれば、大和国（現・奈良県）吉野山中の菜摘川（夏実川）や清明滝（蜻螟滝）でよく見かけるもので、野槌の名は槌に似ていることが由来とある。