'arvensis' originates from Latin, specifically from the adjective 'arvensis,' ultimately built from 'arvum' meaning 'ploughed field.'

'arvensis' was used in Classical and Medieval Latin and was carried into New Latin and modern botanical nomenclature as a species epithet (e.g. 'X arvensis').

Initially it meant 'of the ploughed field' in Latin; over time it has been preserved in scientific Latin to mean 'of the field' or 'growing in fields' when used as a species name.