'Pterocarpus' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'pterokarpós', where 'pteron-' meant 'wing' and 'karpós' meant 'fruit'.

'Pterocarpus' was formed from the Greek adjective 'pterokarpós' and was adopted into New Latin/botanical Latin as the genus name 'Pterocarpus'.

Initially, it meant 'winged fruit' (a descriptive term), but over time it evolved into the modern botanical name for a genus of trees whose fruits are often winged.