red-rimmed

The compound adjective "red-rimmed" is a transparent formation from native English elements. The first element, "red," descends from the Proto-Germanic raudaz, a primary color term. The second element, "rim," originates from the Old English rima, meaning "border" or "edge," a word of Germanic lineage. The suffix "-med" is the standard adjectival suffix "-ed," which attaches to nouns to indicate possession of a quality. The literal construction "having a red rim" directly and logically describes the physical appearance, most commonly applied to eyes surrounded by reddish coloration due to fatigue, irritation, or emotion.

Structure: red (color) + rim (edge) + med (having the quality of) - red: From Old English rēad, of Germanic origin, related to Dutch rood and German rot. Functions as an adjective describing color. - rim: From Old English rima (edge, border). Functions as a noun denoting a border or margin. - med: A variant of the suffix -ed, used to form adjectives from nouns, meaning "having" or "characterized by." From Old English -ede, -od, -ad.