gynaeceum

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   botany: variant of gynoecium, the collective female reproductive parts of a flower

   The flower's gynaeceum consisted of three fused carpels surrounding the ovules.

2. 2
   noun

   historical: the women's quarters in an ancient Greek or Roman household

   Visitors were not normally admitted to the household's private gynaeceum.

From Latin gynaeceum, from Ancient Greek gynaikeion ("women's apartments"), based on gyne ("woman"). Botany later applied the same classical stem to the female reproductive structures of a flower; gynoecium is now the more usual spelling.

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