'little-watched' is a compound formed from 'little' and the past participle 'watched'. 'little' originates from Old English 'lytel', where 'lytel' meant 'small'. 'watch' (the verb) originates from Old English and Old French influences (Old English 'wæccan' / Old North French 'wachier'), where roots conveyed senses of 'be awake' and 'guard/observe'.

'little' evolved from Old English 'lytel' through Middle English 'litel' into modern English 'little'. The verb 'watch' developed from Old English/Old French roots into Middle English 'wacchen'/'watchen', giving the past participle 'watched'. The hyphenated compound 'little-watched' is a modern English formation combining these elements to describe something observed only to a small degree.

The original elements referred separately to 'small' and to 'being awake/observant'; combined in modern usage the compound means 'seldom observed' or 'not much watched'.