'debt-cutting' originates from the combination of 'debt' and 'cutting', where 'debt' meant 'something owed' and 'cutting' meant 'reducing or decreasing'.

'debt' changed from the Old English word 'dett' and eventually became the modern English word 'debt'. 'Cutting' evolved from the Old English 'cyttan', meaning 'to cut'.

Initially, 'debt-cutting' meant 'reducing financial obligations', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.