'antrorse' originates from Latin, specifically the Neo-Latin/Latin adjective 'antrōrsus' (or 'antrorsus'), where the element 'ante-' (appearing as an-) meant 'before, forward' and the root related to Latin 'torsus' (from 'torquere') meant 'turned'.

'antrorse' passed into scientific English from Neo-Latin/Latin 'antrōrsus' used in botanical descriptions (18th–19th century), preserving the notion of being 'turned forward' and becoming the English adjective 'antrorse'.

Initially it meant 'turned forward' in Latin/Neo-Latin botanical usage; over time it has retained this specialized meaning in modern English botanical and anatomical descriptions.