'redistribute' originates from the prefix 're-' meaning 'again' and the word 'distribute' from Latin 'distribuere', where 'dis-' meant 'apart' and 'tribuere' meant 'to assign'.

'distribuere' transformed into the Old French word 'distribuer', and eventually became the modern English word 'distribute'. The prefix 're-' was added to form 'redistribute'.

Initially, it meant 'to assign or divide again', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.