'honey-hued' is a modern English compound formed from 'honey' + 'hued'. 'honey' originates from Old English 'hunig', from Proto-Germanic '*hunangą', referring to the sweet substance produced by bees. 'hued' is derived from the noun 'hue' meaning 'color'.

'hue' comes from Old English 'hiw/hiwe' meaning 'color, complexion', which passed into Middle English as 'hiwe' and later became modern English 'hue'. 'honey' has remained similar from Old English 'hunig' to modern 'honey'. The compound 'honey-hued' is a descriptive, relatively recent formation in English combining these elements.

Individually, 'honey' originally named the substance and 'hue' meant 'color'; combined as 'honey-hued' the phrase specifically denotes a color resembling honey rather than referring to the substance itself.