'precocious' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'praecox', where 'prae-' meant 'before' and 'coquere' meant 'to cook or ripen'.

'praecox' transformed into the French word 'précocité', and eventually became the modern English word 'precocious' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'ripening early', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'developing abilities at an early age'.