'arcature' originates from French, specifically the word 'arcature', ultimately from Late Latin 'arcatura', where the root 'arcus' meant 'bow, arch'.

'arcature' changed from Late Latin 'arcatura' (formed from Latin 'arcus') into Old French 'arcature' and was adopted into English as 'arcature' (plural 'arcatures').

Initially it referred broadly to an 'arched form' (from Latin 'arcus' meaning 'arch'), and over time it came to denote specifically a decorative series or row of small arches in architecture; the modern usage retains this architectural sense.