'glossy-printed' is a compound formed from the adjective 'glossy' and the past-participle adjective 'printed'. 'glossy' was created in Modern English by adding the suffix '-y' to 'gloss' (meaning 'shine, luster'), and 'printed' is the past participle of 'print'.

'glossy' developed from the noun 'gloss' (sense 'shine' or 'luster') plus the adjectival suffix '-y' in post-medieval English. 'print' as a verb/past participle comes from earlier Middle English printing vocabulary derived ultimately from words meaning 'press' or 'impress' (via Old French and Latin roots related to pressing). The compound 'glossy-printed' arose in modern usage to describe the finish of printed material.

Individually, 'glossy' originally described surface sheen and 'printed' indicated having been produced by printing; together the compound took on the specific commercial/technical meaning 'printed with a glossy finish' used in publishing and packaging.