'undershoot' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'under,' where 'under' meant 'below,' and 'shoot,' from 'sceotan,' meant 'to project or throw.'

'undershoot' changed from the Old English word 'undersceotan' and eventually became the modern English word 'undershoot'.

Initially, it meant 'to shoot below a target,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'falling short of a target or goal.'