'gynaeceum' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'γυναικεῖον' (gynaikeion), where 'γυνή (gynē)' meant 'woman'.

'gynaeikeion' (Greek) was borrowed into Late Latin/medieval scholarly Latin as 'gynaecium' or similar forms, then entered Middle English as 'gynaeceum' and later stabilized in modern English as 'gynaeceum' (with alternative spellings such as 'gynaecium' and 'gynoecium').

Initially it meant 'a place of women' or 'women's quarters' in a household; over time the term was extended to similar female living-areas (e.g., in convents) and later, by analogy in botanical usage, came to denote the 'female reproductive parts of a flower'.