'bow-shaped' originates from modern English, specifically the compound of 'bow' + the past participle form of 'shape', where 'bow' meant 'an arched object' and 'shape' meant 'form or outline'.

'bow' changed from Old English 'boga' (meaning 'arch, bow'), and 'shape' comes from Old English elements such as 'gesceap'/'sceap' (meaning 'form, creation'); these elements were combined in Modern English to form the descriptive compound 'bow-shaped'.

Initially the elements referred separately to 'an arched object' (bow) and 'form' (shape); over time the compound came to be used adjectivally to mean 'having the form of a bow, i.e. arched or curved'.