'antherid' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'antheridium', which ultimately comes from Greek 'antheridion' where the element 'anther-' meant 'flower' or 'bloom' and the diminutive suffix '-idion' meant 'small thing'.

'antherid' changed from New Latin 'antheridium' (from Greek 'antheridion') and was adopted into scientific English (19th century) as 'antheridium' and the shortened form 'antherid'.

Initially it referred to a small flower-like or blossom-like structure; over time the term came to be used specifically for the male gametangium (male reproductive organ) of certain algae, fungi, bryophytes and other non-flowering plants.