'broad-toed' is a Modern English compound formed from 'broad' and 'toe'. 'broad' ultimately originates from Old English 'brād', where 'brād' meant 'broad, wide'; 'toe' ultimately originates from Old English 'tā', where 'tā' meant 'toe'.

'broad' developed from Old English 'brād' (via Middle English forms) and 'toe' from Old English 'tā'; these elements were compounded in Modern English to produce descriptive compounds such as 'broad-toed'.

Initially the components referred to 'wide' (for 'broad') and the digit on the foot (for 'toe'), and the compound 'broad-toed' has retained the straightforward meaning of 'having wide toes'.