'centrolecithality' originates from New Latin/Greek-derived elements: 'centro-' (from Greek 'kentron' via Latin, meaning 'center'), 'lecith-' from Greek 'lekithos' meaning 'egg yolk', and the English noun-forming suffix '-ity' (from Latin '-itas') indicating a state or condition.

'centrolecithal' was coined in scientific usage (combining 'centro-' + 'lecithal') to describe eggs with centrally concentrated yolk; the abstract noun 'centrolecithality' was later formed by adding the suffix '-ity' to denote the state or condition.

Initially descriptive of the anatomical arrangement 'having yolk concentrated at the center of an egg'; over time it has remained a specialized biological term with the same technical meaning.