'amber-colored' is formed from the noun 'amber' and the adjective-forming suffix '-colored', where 'amber' refers to the fossilized tree resin known for its yellowish-brown color.

'amber-colored' was created in modern English by combining 'amber' (from Old French 'ambre', from Arabic 'ʿanbar') and '-colored' (from Latin 'coloratus', meaning 'colored').

Initially, it described anything having the color of amber, and this meaning has remained consistent.