'cold-hearted' originates from the combination of 'cold' and 'heart,' where 'cold' meant 'lacking warmth or emotion' and 'heart' referred to 'the seat of emotions.'

'cold-hearted' evolved from the Old English word 'ceald' (cold) and 'heorte' (heart), eventually forming the modern English term 'cold-hearted.'

Initially, it meant 'lacking warmth in emotions,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.