The compound adjective 'spring-fed' is a transparent combination of two native English elements. 'Spring' originates from the Old English verb springan, which described the action of leaping or bursting forth, a concept perfectly aligned with water emerging from the ground. 'Fed' derives from Old English fēdan, meaning to supply with nourishment. The compound logically and literally describes something, typically a body of water, that is supplied or nourished by a spring. This modern usage directly preserves the core meanings of its constituent parts, creating a clear descriptive term for a specific hydrological feature.

Structure: spring (water source) + fed (supplied) - spring: From Old English springan (to leap, burst forth, rise up), related to a source of water. In this compound, it functions as a noun denoting the natural water source. - fed: Past participle of the verb feed, from Old English fēdan (to nourish, supply). In this compound, it functions as a participial adjective meaning 'supplied or nourished by'.