high-fiber

The compound adjective 'high-fiber' is a modern nutritional term constructed from two English words of distinct origins. 'High' descends from the Old English hēah, a common Germanic term for elevation, which evolved to also signify a large degree or quantity. 'Fiber' traces back to Latin fibra, meaning a filament or thread, which entered English via French. In the 20th century, as the health benefits of dietary roughage became understood, these elements were combined in a straightforward, descriptive manner. The term literally means 'having a great amount of thread-like plant matter,' directly linking the physical property of the substance to its quantified nutritional presence in food.

Structure: high (great in amount) + fiber (dietary substance) - high: From Old English hēah, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoog and German hoch. Functions as an adjective meaning 'of great vertical extent' or, in compounds, 'great in amount or degree'. - fiber: From French fibre, from Latin fibra 'fiber, filament, entrails'. Functions as a noun denoting a thread-like structure, specifically here referring to the indigestible part of plant foods.