'archipelagic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'arkhipélagos', where 'arkhi-' meant 'chief' and 'pélagos' meant 'sea' (via Italian/Latin forms 'archipelago').

'archipelagic' developed from the noun 'archipelago' (from Italian/Latin forms of Greek 'arkhipélagos') and was formed in English by adding the adjective suffix '-ic' to create 'archipelagic'.

Initially associated with the 'chief sea' or the sea around a principal island (from Greek), the meaning evolved to describe something 'relating to or characteristic of an archipelago' (many islands).