'areca' originates from Portuguese and Spanish, specifically the word 'areca', where the term likely came from Malayalam 'arakka' (or similar forms) referring to the areca palm or its fruit.

'areca' changed from a Malayalam word like 'arakka' into Portuguese/Spanish 'areca' and was later adopted into English (from early modern contact with South and Southeast Asia).

Initially, it meant 'the areca (betel-nut) palm or its fruit', and this basic meaning has been retained into modern English.