'avicula' (modern English usage) appears via New Latin and scientific Latin as a borrowed form used in taxonomy and literary references, ultimately taken directly from Classical Latin 'avicula'.

'avicula' was used in Medieval and Renaissance Latin texts retaining the diminutive sense from Classical Latin; later (18th century) it was adopted into New Latin for genus names in Linnaean taxonomy, giving the modern scientific use 'Avicula'.

Initially it meant 'little bird' in Classical Latin; over time the form was retained in literary and scientific contexts and also came to serve as a proper noun in taxonomy referring to certain bivalves.