'racemiferous' originates from New Latin (botanical Latin), specifically from the Latin element 'racemus' and the suffix '-ferous'; 'racemus' meant 'a bunch of grapes; a cluster' and the Latin root 'ferre' (in '-ferous') meant 'to bear'.

'racemiferous' changed from botanical Latin constructions such as 'racemifer' (formed from Latin 'racemus' + '-fer'), and entered English botanical usage in the 19th century as 'racemiferous'.

Initially it meant 'bearing racemes' in botanical descriptions, and over time it has retained that specific technical meaning in modern usage.