'feather-star' originates from Modern English, formed by compounding the words 'feather' and 'star', where 'feather' referred to the bird plume-like appearance and 'star' referred to a radial or star-like shape.

'feather' comes from Old English 'feðer' and 'star' from Old English 'steorra'; the compound 'feather-star' developed in modern usage to name the feathered, star-shaped crinoids.

Initially a descriptive compound meaning 'feather-like star' (referring to shape); over time it became the established common name for certain unstalked crinoids (comatulids).