'four-leaf' originates from Old English elements, specifically the words 'four' (Old English 'feower') and 'leaf' (Old English 'lēaf'), where 'feower' meant 'four' and 'lēaf' meant 'leaf'.

'four-leaf' developed through Middle English compound forms such as 'four-leef'/'four-leve' and eventually became the Modern English compound 'four-leaf'.

Initially, it meant 'having four leaves' in a literal descriptive sense; over time the compound became strongly associated with the 'four-leaf clover' and the idea of luck.