'apiculture' originates from French, specifically the word 'apiculture', where 'api-' (from Latin 'apis') meant 'bee' and '-culture' (from Latin 'cultura') meant 'cultivation'.

'apiculture' entered English from French 'apiculture', itself formed from the Latin roots 'apis' (bee) + 'cultura' (cultivation), and became the English term 'apiculture' in modern usage.

Initially, it meant 'bee cultivation' or 'the keeping of bees'; over time it retained this sense and came to be used both for practical beekeeping and for the scientific study/industry of managing bees.