red-skinned

The compound adjective "red-skinned" is a straightforward descriptive term formed within English. Its first element, "red," descends from the Proto-Germanic raudaz, a color term with ancient roots. The second element, "skinned," derives from the Old Norse skinn, meaning animal hide or pelt, which was adopted into Old English. Combined, these elements create a literal, physical description meaning "having skin that is red in color." Historically, this term has been used in botanical contexts (e.g., describing potato varieties) and, problematically, as an ethnic descriptor for some Indigenous peoples of the Americas, a usage now widely considered dated and offensive.

Structure: red (color) + skinned (having skin) - red: From Old English rēad, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch rood and German rot. Functions as an adjective describing a color. - skinned: From Old English scinn (skin, hide), of Old Norse origin. The suffix -ed forms an adjective meaning "having" or "characterized by" the specified feature.