'letterpress-printed' originates from English, specifically the compound 'letterpress' (from 'letter' + 'press') combined with 'print' where 'letter' comes from Latin 'littera' meaning 'letter (of the alphabet)', 'press' from Old French 'presser' ultimately from Latin 'pressare' meaning 'to press', and 'print' from Old French/Latin roots meaning 'to press/impress'.

'letterpress' developed as a compound of 'letter' + 'press' referring to the press used to reproduce letters; 'print' derives from Latin roots such as 'premere' (to press) and passed through Old French forms before appearing in Middle English as verbs meaning to press or impress, eventually giving the modern verb 'print' and the compound 'letterpress'.

Initially the roots referred broadly to 'pressing' or 'impressing' (e.g., to press letters or make impressions); over time the combined term evolved to denote the specific printing technique and, as an adjective, 'produced by that technique'.