'partially-covered' originates from English, formed from the adverb 'partially' (ultimately from Latin 'partialis' < 'pars, partis' meaning 'part') and the past participle 'covered' of the verb 'cover' (from Old French 'covrir'/'couvrir', from Latin 'cooperīre' meaning 'to cover').

'partially-covered' changed from the Modern English phrase 'partially covered' used attributively and eventually became the modern English compound 'partially-covered'.

Initially, it meant 'covered in part,' and over time it also came to refer to partial financial or policy coverage.