'small-minded' originates from the combination of 'small' and 'mind,' where 'small' meant 'limited in scope' and 'mind' referred to 'intellectual capacity or perspective.'

'small-minded' evolved from the Middle English use of 'small' to denote 'limited' and 'mind' to denote 'intellectual capacity,' eventually forming the modern English term 'small-minded.'

Initially, it meant 'limited in intellectual capacity,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'lacking tolerance or open-mindedness.'