'poorly-fixed' originates from the combination of 'poorly,' meaning 'in a poor manner,' and 'fixed,' meaning 'attached or repaired.'

'Poorly' and 'fixed' have been used in English since the Middle Ages, with 'poorly' deriving from 'poor' and 'fixed' from the Latin 'fixus.'

Initially, 'poorly' meant 'in a poor condition,' and 'fixed' meant 'attached.' Together, they have maintained the meaning of 'not well attached.'