'avocado' originates from Spanish, specifically the word 'aguacate', which ultimately comes from Nahuatl 'āhuacatl', where 'āhuacatl' meant 'testicle'.

'avocado' changed from the Nahuatl word 'āhuacatl' to Spanish 'aguacate', and later entered English as 'avocado' (with historical variant spellings such as 'avogato' in early records).

Initially, it meant 'testicle' (based on the fruit's shape), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of the edible fruit 'avocado'.