'compound-leafed' originates from Modern English, specifically a compound of the adjective 'compound' and the noun 'leaf'; 'compound' ultimately comes from Latin 'componere,' where 'com-' meant 'together' and 'ponere' meant 'to place', and 'leaf' comes from Old English 'lēaf' meaning 'leaf'.

'compound' was borrowed into Middle English from Old French (compare Old French 'compondre'/Latin 'componere') and became English 'compound'; 'leaf' derives from Old English 'lēaf' and remained similar in form; the adjectival botanical formation 'compound-leaved' (and variant hyphenation 'compound-leafed') developed in English usage to describe plants' foliage.

Initially the elements meant 'placed together' (for 'compound') and 'leaf' (for 'leaf'); combined in English botanical usage they came to mean 'having leaves made up of several leaflets', which is the current meaning.