'bambusa' originates from New Latin, ultimately taken from Malay 'bambu' (also attested as 'mambu') via Portuguese/Spanish 'bambu', where the root meant 'bamboo (the plant)'.

'bambusa' changed from Malay word 'mambu' to Portuguese/Spanish 'bambu', later appearing in Dutch/English as 'bamboo' and eventually being Latinized in botanical nomenclature as 'Bambusa' in the 18th century.

Initially, it meant 'bamboo (the plant)', and over time it has been used specifically as the botanical name for a genus of bamboo, retaining the core botanical sense.