'long-distance' originates from the combination of 'long' and 'distance', where 'long' meant 'extending a great distance' and 'distance' meant 'space between two points'.

'Long-distance' evolved from the Old English 'lang' and Latin 'distantia', eventually becoming the modern English term 'long-distance'.

Initially, it meant 'covering a great distance', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.