Meaning

noun any of various tropical lianas of the genus Scindapsus

noun evergreen liana widely cultivated for its variegated foliage

originFrom translingual Pothos, the genus name. The similarity to Ancient Greek Πόθος (Póthos), the name of one of Aphrodite's erotes who was said to carry a vine (from πόθος (póthos, “yearning, desire”)) is noted; however, other references give the origin as Sinhalese පෝටා වැල් (pōṭā wæl).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0