'reduced-volume' originates from English, specifically the combination of 'reduced' (past participle of 'reduce') and 'volume' (from Latin 'volumen'), where 'reduce' originates from Latin 'reducere' (with 're-' meaning 'back' and 'ducere' meaning 'to lead') and 'volumen' in Latin referred to a 'roll' or 'something rolled' that later developed the sense of 'bulk' or 'amount of space'.

'reduce' came into English via Latin 'reducere' through Old French and Middle English forms, eventually producing the modern verb 'reduce' and its past participle 'reduced'; 'volume' entered English from Latin 'volumen' via Old French 'volume', evolving from the idea of a roll to the modern sense of 'bulk, size, or amount (including loudness)'. The compound 'reduced-volume' arose in modern English by combining these established words to describe decreased size or loudness.

Initially, components referred to 'leading back' (reduce) and a 'rolled object' or bulk (volume); over time the combined sense became 'having less bulk or lower loudness' and is now used to describe smaller size or lower sound level.