'reticulated' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'reticulatus' (the past participle of 'reticulare'), where 'reticulum' meant 'little net'.

'reticulatus' in Latin led to Medieval/Modern Latin forms (such as 'reticulatus'/'reticulare') and was borrowed into English as 'reticulate' and its adjective/past-participle form 'reticulated'.

Initially it meant 'made into a small net' or 'having the form of a little net'; over time this core idea stayed stable and now describes anything with a net-like or network pattern.