'feather-shaped' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'feather' and 'shape', specifically 'feather' from Old English 'feðer' meaning 'feather' and 'shape' from Old English 'gesceap' (or related forms) meaning 'form' or 'creation'.

'feather' came from Old English 'feðer' (from Proto-Germanic *feþrō) and developed into Middle English 'fether' and modern 'feather'; 'shape' comes from Old English 'gesceap'/'sceap' (Proto-Germanic *skap-) meaning 'form' and developed into modern 'shape'. The compound 'feather-shaped' was formed in Modern English by combining these elements to describe something that has the form of a feather.

Initially the elements meant 'feather' and 'form/creation'; over time the compound evolved to mean specifically 'resembling a feather' or 'having a feather-like form', including specialized botanical senses (pinnate).