Early 19th century; earliest use found in Henry F. Cary (1772–1844), translator. From ancient Greek Πελαργικός, designating the northern slope of the Acropolis of Athens, either alteration of Πελασγικός (the two occur as variants in Herodotus and Thucydides), or from ancient Greek πελαργός stork (from a first element also seen in πελιός livid, dark bluish grey + ἀργός white, on account of the black and white plumage of the bird) + -ικός.