'hydrochore' originates from modern scientific/New Latin formation, combining Greek 'hydro-' (from Greek 'hudōr' meaning 'water') and the element '-chore' (from Greek 'chorein'/'choros' meaning 'to spread, to move').

'hydrochore' was coined in modern botanical and ecological terminology from Greek roots, related to the nouns 'hydrochory' (the process) and the adjective 'hydrochorous'; it entered English as a technical formation rather than via a single historical intermediate.

Initially coined to denote diaspores dispersed by water; over time the term has kept this technical meaning and is used to describe both individual dispersal units and species adapted for water dispersal.