'twisted-grained' originates from English, specifically a compound of 'twisted' (past participle of 'twist') and 'grained' (from 'grain'), where 'twist' originally meant 'to turn or wind' and 'grain' referred to the texture or fibres of wood.

'twisted' derives from Old English/Old Norse roots (related to words meaning 'to twine or wind'), while 'grain' comes via Old French 'grain' from Latin 'granum' meaning 'seed'; the compound 'twisted-grained' developed in modern English by combining these elements to describe wood texture.

Initially the components referred separately to 'turning/winding' and 'texture/seed'; combined in modern usage they specifically denote wood whose fibres/texture are twisted—this specialized sense developed from the literal meanings and has remained stable.