'hand-blocked' is a Modern English formation from the compound 'hand-block' (hand + block) with the past-participle/‑ed suffix; 'hand' refers to the manual action and 'block' refers to the carved block used for printing.

'hand' originates from Old English 'hand'; 'block' comes via Middle English from Old French 'bloc' (and ultimately from Frankish/Dutch sources like 'blok' meaning 'block, log'); the adjective/participle form developed by adding the English past-participle suffix '-ed' to the compound.

Initially describing the separate elements ('hand' + 'block'), the compound came to denote the specific craft process of applying designs by pressing carved blocks by hand; this meaning has remained stable in craft and textile contexts.