're-haft' originates from English, specifically the prefix 're-' (ultimately from Latin 're-') meaning 'again' attached to the word 'haft' (handle).

're-haft' was formed in modern English by combining the productive prefix 're-' with the noun/verb 'haft' (from Old English 'hæft' meaning 'handle'), producing the verb meaning 'to fit a handle again' and later the past/past-participle form 're-hafted'.

Initially, 'haft' meant 'handle', and the prefix 're-' meant 'again'; over time the compound 're-haft' came to mean specifically 'to replace or reattach a handle', which is the meaning used today.