'low-starch' originates from Modern English as a compound of the adjective 'low' and the noun 'starch'. 'low' originates from Old English (e.g. 'hlēow'/'hlāw') where it meant 'not high' or 'low in height/amount', and 'starch' originates from Old English 'stearc' (from Proto-Germanic '*starkaz') where it originally meant 'stiff' or 'strong'.

'starch' changed from Proto-Germanic '*starkaz' into Old English 'stearc', came into Middle English as 'starch' (in part via the sense of 'stiffness' applied to cloth) and eventually developed the modern meaning relating to the carbohydrate 'starch'. 'low' has remained a basic Old English adjective (with forms such as 'hlēow'/'hlāw') into modern English with little change in core meaning; the compound 'low-starch' is a modern descriptive formation.

Initially, 'starch' referred to 'stiffness' (as when starching cloth); over time its meaning shifted to the white carbohydrate substance found in plants and foods. 'low' initially meant 'not high' and has retained this basic meaning; combined as 'low-starch' it now specifically means 'having a small amount of starch'.