'direction-wise' originates from English, formed by compounding the noun 'direction' and the suffix '-wise' (from Old English 'wīs' meaning 'manner' or 'way').

'direction' comes from Latin 'directio' (from 'dirigere' meaning 'to direct'), passed into Middle English as 'directioun'/'direction'. The suffix '-wise' derives from Old English 'wīs' and developed into a productive Middle English suffix '-wise' used to form adverbs meaning 'in the manner of' or 'with respect to'. These elements combined in Modern English to form 'direction-wise'.

The components originally conveyed 'the manner or way of directing'; over time the compound has come to mean specifically 'with regard to direction' or 'as to direction'.