'little-referenced' originates from modern English, specifically the combination of the adjective 'little' (from Old English 'lȳtel', meaning 'small') and 'referenced', the past participle form built from the verb 'refer' (which traces to Latin 'referre').

'refer' entered English via Old French/Latin: Latin 'referre' ('re-' = 'back' + 'ferre' = 'to carry') passed into Old French and Middle English as forms meaning 'bring back' or 'relate'; from Middle English developed the noun 'reference' and the participle 'referenced'; the compound 'little-referenced' is a modern English formation combining 'little' + past participle.

Initially, Latin 'referre' meant 'to carry back'; over time the sense shifted toward 'to relate', 'to direct attention to', or 'to cite'; consequently 'referenced' came to mean 'cited or mentioned', and 'little-referenced' now means 'rarely cited or mentioned'.