'pericope' originates from Late Latin, specifically the word 'pericopa', ultimately from Greek 'perikopē' (περικοπή), where 'peri-' meant 'around' and 'kopē' (from koptein) meant 'a cutting'.

'perikopē' (Greek) passed into Late Latin as 'pericopa'/'pericope' and was adopted into Medieval and then Modern English with the form 'pericope'.

Initially, it meant 'a cutting out' (a portion cut out), but over time it came to mean 'a selected passage or excerpt', especially a portion of Scripture designated for reading.