'loosely-regulated' originates from the combination of 'loose' and 'regulate', where 'loose' meant 'not tight' and 'regulate' meant 'to control or maintain'.

'loose' changed from Old English 'lēas' meaning 'free from' and 'regulate' from Latin 'regulare', eventually forming the modern English term 'loosely-regulated'.

Initially, 'loose' meant 'free from restraint', and 'regulate' meant 'to control', evolving into the current meaning of 'not strictly controlled'.