'letter-shaped' originates from the combination of 'letter' and 'shaped', where 'letter' refers to a character in an alphabet and 'shaped' means having a specific form.

'letter' comes from the Latin word 'littera', and 'shaped' is derived from the Old English 'sceapian', meaning to form or create.

Initially, it meant 'formed like a letter', and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.