'apophyge' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'apophygē', where 'apo-' meant 'away from' and 'phygē' meant 'a flight or turning away'.

'apophygē' passed into Late Latin and medieval architectural usage and then into French as 'apophyge' before entering modern English as 'apophyge'.

Initially it meant 'a turning away or departure', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a small concave transition (in architecture) where a shaft meets another element'.