The compound 'whole-milk' is a transparent Modern English formation. The adjective 'whole' originates from the Old English concept of being sound, unhurt, and complete, a meaning preserved in its use here to specify milk in its complete, unaltered state. The noun 'milk' has ancient Germanic roots, related to the act of milking. Combined, the term logically and directly describes milk that retains its full, natural fat content, as opposed to 'skimmed' or 'semi-skimmed' varieties where part of the milk fat has been removed. It is a descriptive, commercially and nutritionally precise term born from the need to differentiate between processed dairy products.

Structure: whole (entire) + milk (liquid food) - whole: From Old English hāl (sound, healthy, entire). In this compound, it functions as an adjective meaning 'entire, with nothing removed'. - milk: From Old English meolc (milk, the fluid secreted by female mammals). It functions as the core noun denoting the substance.