'gynoecium' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'gynoecium', ultimately from Greek 'gynaikeion' where 'gyn-' meant 'woman/female' and the element related to 'oikos'/'-eion' meant 'house/place'.

'gynoecium' changed from Greek 'gynaikeion' (γυναικεῖον, meaning 'women's apartment') into New Latin/Latinized botanical usage as 'gynoecium', and was later adopted into modern English botanical terminology.

Initially it meant 'women's apartment' in ancient Greek, but over time it evolved into its current botanical meaning of 'the female reproductive parts of a flower.'