'shade-giving' originates from the combination of 'shade' and 'giving', where 'shade' meant 'a shadow or area sheltered from the sun' and 'giving' meant 'providing or offering'.

'shade-giving' evolved from the Old English word 'sceadu' for 'shade' and 'giefan' for 'give', eventually forming the modern English compound adjective 'shade-giving'.

Initially, it meant 'providing a shadow', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.