'smooth-leaved' originates from the combination of 'smooth' and 'leaved', where 'smooth' means 'having an even and regular surface' and 'leaved' refers to 'having leaves'.

The term 'smooth-leaved' has been used in botanical contexts to describe plants with non-hairy leaves.

Initially, it meant 'having leaves that are smooth', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.