'man-shaped' originates from modern English as a compound of 'man' and 'shaped'. 'man' originates from Old English 'mann', where 'mann' meant 'person, human', and 'shaped' comes from the verb 'shape' (from Old English roots meaning 'to form, create').

'man' changed from Old English 'mann' to Middle English 'man' and then to modern English 'man'. 'shape' comes from Old English forms such as 'sceap'/'gesceap' (meaning form or creation), which became Middle English 'shape' and then modern 'shape'; the adjectival compound 'man-shaped' developed in modern English by combining these elements.

Initially, 'man' meant 'person' and 'shape' meant 'form' or 'creation'; over time the compound came to specifically mean 'having the form or outline of a human (man)'.