'law-breaking' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'lagu,' where 'lagu' meant 'law,' and 'brecan' meant 'to break.'

'lagu' and 'brecan' combined in Middle English to form 'law-breken,' which eventually became the modern English word 'law-breaking.'

Initially, it meant 'to break the law,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.