'masculinise' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'masculus', where 'masculus' meant 'male', combined with the verb-forming suffix '-ize' which comes from Greek '-izein' via Latin and Old French.

'masculinise' changed from the Late Latin adjective 'masculinus' (from 'masculus') and the Romance verb-forming process (Middle French 'masculiniser') and eventually became the modern English verb 'masculinise' (British) and 'masculinize' (US).

Initially it related to the adjective sense 'pertaining to males', but over time it evolved into the verb meaning 'to make or render masculine'.