'barehanded' originates from English, specifically the compound of the words 'bare' and 'handed', where 'bare' (from Old English 'bær') meant 'naked' and 'hand' (from Old English 'hand') meant 'hand'.

'barehanded' changed from the hyphenated phrase 'bare-handed' in Early Modern English, formed from Old English elements 'bær' and 'hand', and eventually became the modern single-word form 'barehanded'.

Initially it meant 'having hands uncovered' and over time it retained and broadened to the current meaning 'doing something with only the hands, without protection or tools'.