'second-year' originates from the combination of 'second' and 'year', where 'second' is derived from Latin 'secundus', meaning 'following' or 'next', and 'year' is from Old English 'ġēar', meaning 'year'.

'second' changed from the Latin word 'secundus' and 'year' from Old English 'ġēar', eventually forming the modern English term 'second-year'.

Initially, 'second' meant 'following' or 'next', and 'year' meant 'a period of 12 months'. Together, they evolved to describe the second period in a sequence, especially in education.