'gastronomy' originates from French, specifically the word 'gastronomie', where 'gastro-' meant 'stomach' and '-nomy' meant 'law or knowledge'.

'gastronomie' transformed into the English word 'gastronomy' and has been used in this form since the early 19th century.

Initially, it meant 'the art of good eating', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.