'nut-producing' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'nut' and 'producing'. 'nut' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'hnutu', where 'hnutu' meant 'nut'. 'produce' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'producere', where 'pro-' meant 'forward' and 'ducere' meant 'to lead'.

'nut' changed from Old English 'hnutu' to Middle English 'nutte' and eventually became modern English 'nut'. 'produce' passed from Latin 'producere' into Old French and Middle English (as 'producen') and evolved into modern English 'produce'; the present participle formed 'producing', and the compound 'nut-producing' is a modern adjectival formation.

Initially, 'nut' named the edible seed and 'producere' meant 'to lead forth or bring forth'; over time 'produce' shifted to mean 'to bring forth (crops or goods)'. The compound 'nut-producing' now specifically means 'producing nuts'.