'pteryla' originates from New Latin, ultimately from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'pterón' (Greek 'πτερόν'), where 'pter-' meant 'wing' or 'feather'.

'pteryla' came into scientific use via New Latin from Greek 'pterýlē'/'pterón' and entered modern English as the technical term 'pteryla' for feather tracts.

Initially related to 'wing' or 'feather' in the root sense, it evolved into the specialized anatomical meaning 'a tract of skin bearing feathers' in ornithological usage.