'rework' originates from the prefix 're-' meaning 'again' and the word 'work', which comes from Old English 'weorc', meaning 'activity involving mental or physical effort'.

'weorc' transformed into the Middle English word 'werk', and eventually became the modern English word 'work'.

Initially, it meant 'to perform a task', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to work on something again'.