'sure-handed' is a modern English compound formed from the adjective 'sure' and 'handed' (from 'hand'). 'sure' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'seur', where 'seur' meant 'secure' or 'certain'; 'hand' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'hand', meaning the body part 'hand'.

'sure' entered Middle English from Old French 'seur' (ultimately from Latin 'securus'), while 'hand' descends from Old English 'hand'; these elements combined in English to form the descriptive compound 'sure-handed' by Early Modern English.

Initially, 'sure' primarily meant 'secure' or 'free from care' (from Latin 'securus'), but in later English it acquired senses of 'certain' and 'confident'; in combination with 'hand(ed)' this evolved into the current sense of 'steady and skillful with the hands' or more broadly 'competent and dependable in handling tasks'.