Early 18th century; earliest use found in Hans Sloane (1660–1753), physician and collector. From classical Latin petiolus, variant (in later MSS and editions) of peciolus little foot, stalk of fruit, probably representing a diminutive formation from ped-, pēs foot; compare -ole. In specific use in sense 1 after scientific Latin petiolus leaf stalk (Linnaeus, 1751 or earlier).