'archegonium' originates from New Latin and Greek, specifically the Greek word 'arkhēgōnion' (ἀρχηγόνιον), where 'arkhē-' meant 'beginning, chief' and 'gónos' (or related stem) meant 'seed, offspring'.

'archegonium' entered scientific vocabulary via New Latin from Greek 'arkhēgōnion'; it was adopted into English botanical terminology in the 19th century as 'archegonium'.

Initially it conveyed the sense of a 'little origin/producing organ' in Greek-derived formation; over time it became specialized to mean the 'female reproductive organ in certain plants' in modern botanical usage.