The compound "weather-beaten" is a straightforward descriptive term from Middle English, formed by combining two native English elements. The word "weather" has Proto-Germanic origins, referring to atmospheric conditions, while "beaten" derives from the action of striking or pounding. The literal sense, "beaten by the weather," vividly personifies natural forces as an active agent that physically assaults and wears down surfaces. Over time, this concrete imagery solidified into an adjective describing anything—from wood and stone to human skin—that shows the visible marks of long-term exposure to wind, rain, and sun.

Structure: weather (atmospheric conditions) + beaten (worn down) - weather: From Old English weder, meaning "air, sky, breeze, storm, weather." Its functional role is the noun base, indicating the source of the damaging force. - beaten: From Old English bēatan, meaning "to beat, pound, strike." Its functional role is the past participle, acting as an adjective suffix meaning "worn or damaged by."