'little-cited' is a compound of 'little' and the past-participle form 'cited' (from the verb 'cite'). 'little' originates from Old English 'lytel' meaning 'small' or 'not much'; 'cite' ultimately originates from Latin 'citare' via Old French 'citer'.

'little' came from Old English 'lytel' → Middle English 'litil' → modern English 'little'. 'cite' derived from Latin 'citare' → Old French 'citer' → Middle English 'citen'/'cite', giving past participle 'cited'; the compound 'little-cited' formed in modern English by combining 'little' + past participle 'cited'.

Initially, the elements meant 'small' (for 'little') and 'to summon/quote' (for 'cite'); over time the compound came to mean 'seldom quoted' or 'rarely referenced' in modern usage.