'one-footed' originates from Old English elements: 'one' (from Old English 'ān') and 'foot' (from Old English 'fōt'), with the adjectival suffix '-ed' added in later English formation.

'one-footed' developed as a compound from Old English elements (e.g. an earlier form combining 'ān' + 'fōt' + '-ed'), passed through Middle English compounds (e.g. 'one-footed') and eventually became the modern English compound adjective 'one-footed'.

Initially it referred simply to 'having a single foot' or 'consisting of one foot'; over time it has been used primarily to describe 'standing on or using one foot' and related states or actions.