'ascocarp' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'ascocarpium', where the prefix 'asco-' comes from Greek 'askos' meaning 'sac' and the suffix '-carp' comes from Greek 'karpos' meaning 'fruit'.

'ascocarp' changed from New Latin 'ascocarpium' and eventually became the modern English word 'ascocarp'.

Initially it meant 'sac-like fruit', and over time it evolved to its current specialized meaning 'the fruiting body of an ascomycete fungus'.