'sail-driven' originates from the combination of 'sail' and 'driven', where 'sail' refers to a piece of fabric used to catch the wind and propel a vessel, and 'driven' is the past participle of 'drive', meaning to be moved or propelled.

'sail-driven' evolved from the Old English word 'segel' for 'sail' and the Old English 'drifan' for 'drive', eventually forming the modern English compound adjective 'sail-driven'.

Initially, it meant 'propelled by sails', and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.