'exposed-fruited' is a modern English compound formed from the adjective 'exposed' and the adjective-forming past participle 'fruited'. 'exposed' ultimately originates from Latin 'exponere' (Ex- + 'ponere'), where 'ex-' meant 'out/away' and 'ponere' meant 'to place'; 'fruited' derives from Old French 'fruit', from Latin 'fructus' meaning 'enjoyment/produce.'

'exposed' passed into English via Old French 'exposer' from Latin 'exponere'; 'fruit' passed into English from Old French 'fruit' (< Latin 'fructus'); the compound 'exposed-fruited' is a relatively recent descriptive formation in botanical English combining these elements to describe fruit position.

Individually, 'exposed' originally meant 'placed or laid out' (from Latin) and 'fruit' originally meant 'produce' or 'that which is enjoyed/produced'; together as the compound 'exposed-fruited' the meaning specialized to 'having the fruit exposed' in botanical contexts.