'development-first' originates from Modern English, specifically the words 'development' and 'first', where 'development' meant 'the process of developing' and 'first' meant 'before others'.

'development' came into English via Middle English 'developen' from Old French 'desveloper' (modern French 'développer'), and the noun 'development' formed with the suffix '-ment'; 'first' comes from Old English 'fyrst' and has meant 'foremost' or 'earliest' since early English. The compound 'development-first' is a modern English coinage combining these elements to express priority.

Initially, the elements meant 'the process of making something' and 'before others', and over time the compound evolved to specifically mean 'giving priority to development' in organizational or product contexts.