'steel-constructed' is a Modern English compound formed from 'steel' and the past participle 'constructed' (from 'construct'). 'steel' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'stēle', where it meant 'hard metal'; 'construct' ultimately comes from Latin 'construere', where 'con-' meant 'together' and 'struere' meant 'to pile up or build'.

'steel' developed from Old English 'stēle' through Middle English forms into modern 'steel'. 'Construct' entered English via Latin 'construere' and Old French 'construire', appearing in Middle English as forms such as 'constructen' and later as modern 'construct'; the compound 'steel-constructed' arose in Modern English by compounding the noun 'steel' with the past-participle adjective 'constructed'.

The compound has consistently meant 'built of steel' since its formation; its core sense—'made or framed from steel'—has remained stable.