[1570–80; gyn- + -archy]This word is first recorded in the period 1570–80. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: agent, balloon, deadhead, huddle, pigeonhole-archy is a combining form meaning “rule,” “government,” forming abstract nouns usuallycorresponding to personal nouns ending in -arch. Other words that use the affix -archy include: dinarchy, hagiarchy, heptarchy, hexarchy, polyarchy