'auricle' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'auricula', a diminutive of 'auris' where 'auris' meant 'ear' and '-cula' was a diminutive suffix meaning 'little'.

'auricle' changed from the Latin word 'auricula' and passed into Middle English (often via medieval Latin usage) to become the modern English word 'auricle'.

Initially it meant 'little ear' in a literal sense; over time it came to denote both the external ear and any small ear-shaped anatomical appendage (such as of the heart).