'Vitis' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'vitis', where 'vitis' meant 'vine' or 'grapevine'.

'Vitis' is taken directly from Classical Latin 'vitis' and was preserved in botanical Latin as the genus name 'Vitis' (used in Linnaean taxonomy).

Initially, it meant 'vine, grapevine' in Latin, and over time it has retained that core meaning as the botanical genus name for grapevines.