'aucupate' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'aucupāre', where the root 'aucup-' referred to bird-catching (related to elements meaning 'bird' and 'to take/catch').

'aucupate' changed from the Latin verb 'aucupāre' (and Late Latin/Medieval forms such as 'aucupare'/'aucupatus') into Middle English attestations of bird-catching terms and eventually into the rare modern English form 'aucupate'.

Initially, it meant 'to catch birds' in the literal sense, and over time the meaning has remained essentially the same, though the word became archaic and rare in modern English.