'stalk-free' originates from the combination of 'stalk' and 'free', where 'stalk' refers to the main stem of a plant and 'free' means without or lacking.

'stalk' changed from Old English 'stalu' meaning 'support' and 'free' from Old English 'freo' meaning 'not in bondage'.

Initially, 'stalk-free' meant 'without a supporting stem', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.