'pliant-leaved' originates from the combination of 'pliant,' which comes from Old French 'pliant,' meaning 'bending,' and 'leaved,' derived from Old English 'lēaf,' meaning 'leaf.'

'pliant' changed from the Old French word 'pliant' and eventually became the modern English word 'pliant,' while 'leaved' evolved from the Old English 'lēaf.'

Initially, 'pliant' meant 'bending' and 'leaved' referred to 'leaf,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.