'receptacle-fruit' originates from Latin, specifically the words 'receptaculum' and 'fructus', where 'receptaculum' meant 'a place that receives' and 'fructus' meant 'enjoyment, produce'.

'receptaculum' changed into Old French/Middle English forms and eventually became the modern English 'receptacle'; 'fructus' passed into Old French as 'fruit' and became modern English 'fruit'. The compound 'receptacle-fruit' is a modern botanical formation combining these elements.

Initially the roots referred separately to 'a receiving place' and 'produce'; over time the combined term came to mean 'a fruit formed largely from the floral receptacle (an accessory fruit)'.