'lawfully-claimed' originates from the combination of 'lawfully,' derived from 'law' meaning 'a system of rules,' and 'claimed,' from 'claim' meaning 'to assert ownership or right.'

'lawfully' evolved from Old English 'lagu' meaning 'law,' and 'claimed' from Old French 'clamer' meaning 'to call or cry out.'

Initially, 'lawfully-claimed' meant 'asserted in accordance with the law,' and this meaning has remained consistent.