'pollen-fertile' is a compound of 'pollen' and 'fertile'. 'pollen' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'pollen' meaning 'fine flour' or 'dust'. 'fertile' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'fertilis' meaning 'fruitful' or 'productive'.

'pollen' entered English from Latin (via scientific/modern Latin usage) where it referred to fine dust; 'fertile' passed into English via Old French 'fertile' from Latin 'fertilis'. The compound 'pollen-fertile' is a modern botanical formation combining these established elements to describe pollen viability.

Initially, 'pollen' meant 'fine flour' or 'dust' and 'fertile' meant 'fruitful' or 'productive'; over time 'pollen' narrowed to the plant reproductive dust and 'fertile' kept the sense of producing or supporting reproduction. The compound now specifically denotes the ability to produce viable pollen.