'pollen-gathering' originates from the combination of 'pollen,' which comes from Latin 'pollen' meaning 'fine flour or dust,' and 'gathering,' derived from Old English 'gaderian,' meaning 'to collect or assemble.'

'pollen' was used in Middle English as 'polen,' and 'gathering' was 'gaderung' in Old English, eventually forming the modern English compound 'pollen-gathering.'

Initially, 'pollen' referred to 'fine dust,' and 'gathering' meant 'collecting.' The compound now specifically refers to the collection of pollen by insects.