'Erodium' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'erodios,' where 'erodios' meant 'heron,' referring to the shape of the fruit.

'Erodios' transformed into the Latin word 'Erodium,' and eventually became the modern English word 'Erodium.'

Initially, it referred to the shape of the fruit resembling a heron's beak, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.