'Occidental-style' originates from English compounding of 'Occidental' and 'style'. 'Occidental' ultimately comes from Latin, specifically the word 'occidens'/'occidentalis', where 'occidens' meant 'the west' or 'setting (of the sun)'. 'Style' comes from Latin 'stilus' via Old French 'style', where 'stilus' meant 'writing tool' (later 'manner' or 'fashion').

'Occidental' passed from Latin 'occidens'/'occidentalis' into Old French and then into Middle and Modern English as 'occidental'. 'Style' passed from Latin 'stilus' into Old French 'estile'/'style' and into English as 'style'. The compound 'Occidental-style' is a modern English formation combining these two words to describe a Western manner or fashion.

Initially, 'occidental' referred quite literally to the west or the setting sun, and 'style' referred to a manner or way of doing things; over time the compound has come to mean 'in the Western manner' or 'in Western fashion'.