The word 紧凑 is formed by combining the character 紧, which historically derives from elements meaning "firm" and "silk" to convey tightness, with 凑, composed of elements meaning "ice" and "play music" but here used for its sense of gathering or assembling; together they create a compound meaning "compact" through the direct contribution of 紧's notion of tightness and 凑's notion of close assembly.