'appendiculate' originates from Latin, specifically the diminutive 'appendicula' (from 'appendere' or related formations), where 'ad-' (in compounds) meant 'to/toward' and 'pendere' meant 'to hang'.

'appendicula' (Latin diminutive of 'appendix') gave rise to Late Latin/Medieval Latin forms such as 'appendiculatus', which entered scientific English as 'appendiculate' to describe organisms or parts that bear small appendages.

Initially it referred to having a small hanging or attached part ('small appendage'); over time it has come to mean more generally 'having appendages' or 'provided with appendages' in descriptive biological usage.