'matronlike' originates from Modern English, specifically the combination 'matron' + '-like', where 'matron' meant 'a married woman or woman in authority' and the element '-like' meant 'having the form or character of (similar to)'.

'matron' passed into Middle English as 'matrone' from Old French 'matrone', ultimately from Latin 'matrona'; the suffix '-like' comes from Old English 'lic' (body, form) which developed into the adjectival suffix '-like' in English; these elements were combined in Modern English to form 'matronlike'.

Initially it referred to resemblance to a 'matron' (literally a married or household mistress); over time the compound came to denote the broader sense of 'motherly, dignified, or staid in manner or appearance', retaining the core idea of similarity to a matron's qualities.