The term 'walkover' originated in 19th-century horse racing, describing a race where only one horse was entered. The competitor could literally "walk over" the course to claim victory, without the need for a strenuous contest. The literal image of an effortless traversal (walk + over) evolved into a powerful metaphor for any situation where success is achieved with minimal or no opposition. This semantic shift from a specific sporting term to a general idiom for an easy win perfectly encapsulates the logic of the compound's components.

Structure: walk + over - walk: From Old English wealcan (to roll, toss) and wealcian (to roll up, curl), via Middle English walken (to move about). In this compound, it carries the sense of moving on foot. - over: From Old English ofer, a preposition/adverb meaning "above, across, beyond." In this compound, it signifies completion or traversal.