'pointed-toed' originates from Modern English, specifically by combining the adjective 'pointed' (past participle of 'point') and the noun 'toe', where 'point' (via Old French 'point') ultimately comes from Latin 'punctum' meaning 'a pricked/point', and 'toe' comes from Old English 'tā' meaning 'toe'.

'point' came into English from Old French 'point', itself from Latin 'punctum'; the adjectival form 'pointed' developed by adding the past-participle suffix '-ed'. 'Toe' comes from Old English 'tā' and evolved into the modern English 'toe'. The compound describing footwear shape shifted from phrases like 'pointed toe' to hyphenated adjectives such as 'pointed-toed' in modern usage.

Initially the elements referred separately to 'a point' and the body part 'toe'; over time the combined phrase came to be used specifically to describe the shape of footwear (i.e., 'having a pointed toe') and retains that descriptive meaning today.