'flower-eating' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'flower' and the present participle of 'eat'. 'Flower' ultimately comes from Old French 'flor'/'fleur', from Latin 'flōs' (where 'flōs' meant 'flower'), and 'eat' comes from Old English 'etan' (where 'etan' meant 'to eat').

'flower-eating' was formed in Modern English by compounding the noun 'flower' (Middle English 'flour' / Old French 'flor'/'fleur' from Latin 'flōs') with 'eating' (the present participle derived from Old English 'etan'), producing the modern compound 'flower-eating'.

Initially the components meant 'flower' and 'to eat'; when combined in Modern English the compound has retained the literal sense of 'the act of eating flowers' or 'feeding on flowers'.