'enclosed-fruited' originates from Modern English, composed of the adjective 'enclosed' and the past-participial adjective-forming element of 'fruit' ('fruited'), where 'en-' in 'enclosed' originally means 'in' or 'into' and 'fruit' comes from Latin 'fructus' meaning 'a produce' or 'fruit'.

'enclosed' comes via Middle English from Old French 'enclos' (past participle of 'enclore'), ultimately from Latin 'inclusus' (from 'includere'), while 'fruit' derives from Latin 'fructus'; the compound adjective 'enclosed-fruited' is a modern descriptive formation in botanical English combining these elements.

Initially the roots referred generally to being 'shut in' ('enclosed') and to 'produce' or 'fruit' ('fructus'); over time the combined modern term came to be used specifically as a botanical descriptor meaning 'having the fruit enclosed within some structure'.