'drawn-out' originates from the combination of 'draw' and 'out', where 'draw' meant 'to pull' and 'out' indicated 'outward direction'.

'drawn' changed from the Old English word 'dragan' meaning 'to pull or drag', and 'out' from the Old English 'ūt', eventually forming the modern English word 'drawn-out'.

Initially, it meant 'to pull something out', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'prolonged'.