'color-stable' is a compound of the English elements 'color' and 'stable'. 'color' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'color', where 'color' meant 'hue, colour'; 'stable' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'stabilis', where the root 'stare' meant 'to stand'.

'color' entered English via Old French 'colour' from Latin 'color'; 'stable' came via Old French 'estable' from Latin 'stabilis'. The compound 'color-stable' is a modern English technical formation (chiefly 20th century) used in textiles, printing, and materials science.

Initially the elements meant 'hue' and 'able to stand'; over time the compound came to be used specifically for materials and dyes to mean 'able to retain original color under exposure', a more specialized technical sense.