'avicularian' originates from Neo-Latin, specifically the word 'avicularius', ultimately from Latin 'avicula' (a diminutive of 'avis') where 'avicula' meant 'little bird'.

'avicularian' changed from Medieval/Neo-Latin 'avicularius' (and related New Latin forms such as 'avicularium' for the specialized zooid) and eventually entered English as 'avicularian', used both adjectivally (birdlike) and as a noun in zoological contexts.

Initially it referred to things 'pertaining to small birds' or to a bird-keeper; over time the term acquired a specialized biological sense referring to the beaklike modified zooid in certain bryozoans, while retaining the broader sense 'birdlike' in rare usage.