'summer-fruiting' originates from English, a compound of 'summer' and the present participle 'fruiting' (from the verb 'to fruit'). 'summer' ultimately comes from Old English 'sumor', and 'fruit' comes into English via Old French 'fruit' from Latin 'fructus'.

'summer-fruiting' was formed in modern English as a compound combining 'summer' + 'fruit' + the suffix '-ing'; 'fruit' itself entered English from Old French 'fruit', derived from Latin 'fructus', and 'summer' from Old English 'sumor'. Over time this combination came to be used in horticultural and botanical descriptions.

Initially, 'fruit' generally meant 'produce' or 'the result/produce of a plant', but over time the compound 'summer-fruiting' came to have the specific meaning 'producing fruit in the summer'.