'gynaecium' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'gynaecium', where the Greek roots 'gynē' meant 'woman' and 'oikion' meant 'little house'.

'gynaecium' changed from the Greek word 'gynaikion' (γυναικεῖον) into New Latin 'gynaecium', and eventually entered English as the modern scientific term 'gynaecium' (also spelled 'gynoecium').

Initially, it meant 'belonging to women' or 'woman's house', but over time it evolved into its current botanical meaning of 'the female reproductive parts of a flower'.