'aeolotropism' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'aiolos,' meaning 'quick-moving' or 'changeable,' and 'tropos,' meaning 'turn' or 'direction.'

'aiolos' combined with 'tropos' in Greek to form 'aeolotropism,' which was adopted into English with the same meaning.

Initially, it meant 'changeable direction,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'having different properties in different directions.'