'short-snouted' originates from English, specifically formed from the adjective 'short' (Old English 'sceort') meaning 'short, brief' and the noun 'snout' (Middle English 'snute'/'snote') meaning 'nose or projecting part (of an animal)', with the adjectival suffix '-ed' creating 'snouted' meaning 'having a snout'.

'short' comes from Old English 'sceort' and developed into modern English 'short'; 'snout' developed from Middle English 'snute'/'snote' (from earlier Germanic roots) and 'snouted' was formed by adding '-ed'; the compound 'short-snouted' is a Modern English descriptive formation combining these elements.

Initially composed simply of 'short' + 'snout' to indicate a short nose; over time the compound stabilized as an adjective meaning 'having a short snout' without additional figurative senses.