'erythrocyte' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'erythrocytus', where 'erythro-' meant 'red' and '-cyte' (from Greek 'kytos') meant 'cell'.

'erythrocyte' changed from Greek compound 'erythrokytos' (erythro- 'red' + kytos 'container, cell') into New Latin 'erythrocytus' and eventually became the modern English word 'erythrocyte'.

Initially, it meant 'red cell', and over time it has retained this specific meaning as 'red blood cell' in modern usage.