The compound 'standard-size' is a modern English formation that combines two nouns to create a descriptive adjective. The first element, 'standard', originates from the Old French 'estandart', a term for a military banner which served as a fixed point of reference, evolving to signify an authoritative benchmark or model. The second element, 'size', derives from the Old French 'sise', an aphetic form of 'assise' meaning a session or settlement, which came to denote an ordinance fixing measures and, by extension, the dimensions of an object. When combined, the literal meaning "a size that conforms to the established norm" directly reflects the modern abstract sense of an object possessing the typical, expected, or officially accepted dimensions.

Structure: standard (norm) + size (dimension) - standard: From Old French 'estandart', meaning a rallying point or a measure of authority. Role: Modifying noun, indicating conformity to an established norm. - size: From Old French 'sise', a shortened form of 'assise', meaning a regulation, fixing of amount, or dimension. Role: Head noun, indicating physical magnitude or extent.