'achene' originates from the French word 'achène', which is derived from the Greek word 'akhaina', where 'a-' meant 'not' and 'khainein' meant 'to gape'.

'akhaina' transformed into the French word 'achène', and eventually became the modern English word 'achene'.

Initially, it meant 'not gaping', referring to the fruit's characteristic of not opening, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.