The word "woodblock" is a transparent English compound formed from two native Germanic elements. "Wood" descends from the Proto-Germanic widuz, which referred to both trees and the material derived from them. "Block" entered English from Old French, but its ultimate origin is the Proto-Germanic blukką, meaning a beam or log. The compound's logic is perfectly literal: a block made of wood. Its specific modern meanings—a printing tool and a musical instrument—are direct applications of this core concept, where the wooden block is carved or hollowed out to serve a specialized function. This demonstrates how English readily combines simple, concrete nouns to create precise terms for tools and objects.

Structure: wood (material) + block (solid piece) wood: Old English wudu, meaning "tree, forest, grove; the substance of which trees are made." In this compound, it denotes the material. block: Middle English blok, from Old French bloc, meaning "log, block of wood." In this compound, it denotes a solid piece or unit.