'softwood' originates from Old English, specifically the words 'soft' and 'wood', where 'soft' meant 'easily yielding to pressure' and 'wood' referred to 'the material from trees'.

'softwood' changed from the Old English words 'softe' and 'wudu' and eventually became the modern English word 'softwood'.

Initially, it meant 'wood that is soft', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'wood from coniferous trees'.