'milk-derived' originates from the combination of 'milk' and the suffix '-derived', where 'milk' refers to the white liquid produced by mammals and '-derived' indicates something obtained from a specified source.

The term 'milk-derived' evolved from the need to describe products obtained from milk, combining the noun 'milk' with the adjective-forming suffix '-derived'.

Initially, it meant 'obtained from milk', and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.