'silver-based' originates from Modern English, specifically a compound of 'silver' and 'base', where 'silver' ultimately comes from Old English 'seolfor' and 'base' comes from Old French 'base' via Latin 'basis' meaning 'foundation'.

'silver' changed from Old English 'seolfor' (and related Proto-Germanic forms) and 'base' entered English from Old French 'base' (from Latin 'basis'), and the modern compound 'silver-based' developed in Modern English to describe things having silver as their base or main component.

Initially the elements referred literally to the metal 'silver' and a 'foundation' or 'base'; over time the compound came to be used adjectivally to mean 'made of, containing, or dependent on silver' in modern usage.