The word 'woodcut' is a transparent compound formed from two native English elements. 'Wood' originates from Proto-Germanic widuz, referring to the substance of trees, while 'cut' derives from the Germanic root kut-, relating to the action of severing or incising. The compound logically names the artistic technique by its fundamental process: cutting a design into a wooden block. This straightforward descriptive term emerged in the late 16th century to specifically denote the relief printing technique, where the non-image areas are carved away, leaving the raised design to be inked and pressed onto paper.

Structure: wood (material) + cut (action) - wood: From Old English wudu, meaning "tree, forest, wood (material)". It functions as the material noun specifying the medium. - cut: From Old English cyttan, a verb meaning "to cut, hew, strike". It functions as the action noun describing the process performed on the material.