'frost-covered' originates from the combination of 'frost' and 'covered', where 'frost' refers to the thin layer of ice crystals and 'covered' means to be overlaid or blanketed.

'Frost' comes from Old English 'forst' or 'frost', and 'covered' from Old English 'coferian', eventually forming the modern English compound 'frost-covered'.

Initially, 'frost' referred to the natural phenomenon of ice crystals, and 'covered' meant to be overlaid. The compound 'frost-covered' has retained this meaning.