'apothecium' originates from New Latin, specifically the Late Greek word 'apothēkion', where 'apothēkē' meant 'storehouse' or 'receptacle'.

'apothecium' changed from Late Greek 'apothēkion' into New Latin scientific usage as 'apothecium' and entered modern English scientific vocabulary (plural 'apothecia').

Initially it meant 'small repository' or 'receptacle', but over time it became specialized in biology to mean a 'cup- or disk-shaped fungal fruiting body'.