'prefabricated' originates from the Latin word 'fabricare,' meaning 'to make or construct.' The prefix 'pre-' indicates 'before,' suggesting the idea of constructing parts before final assembly.

'Fabricare' transformed into the French word 'fabriquer,' and eventually became the modern English word 'fabricate.' The prefix 'pre-' was added to form 'prefabricate.'

Initially, it meant 'to construct beforehand,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.