'many-laned' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'many' and the adjectival/past-participial form 'laned' (from 'lane'); 'many' ultimately derives from Old English 'manig', and 'lane' ultimately derives from Old English 'lanu' (or Middle English 'lane').

'many' changed from Old English 'manig' to Middle English 'many' and retained the meaning 'numerous'; 'lane' changed from Old English 'lanu' through Middle English 'lane'; these elements combined in Modern English to form the compound 'many-laned'.

Initially, the components meant 'numerous' ('many') and 'a narrow road or passage' ('lane'); over time the compound came to mean 'having many lanes' specifically in reference to roads.