'androconium' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'anēr, andros' meaning 'man' and 'konis' meaning 'dust' or 'powder', referring to the male and the powdery scales.

'androconium' was formed in modern scientific Latin from Greek roots and adopted directly into English scientific terminology.

Initially, it referred specifically to the male scent scales in butterflies and moths, and this meaning has remained unchanged in modern usage.