'monkeylike' originates from English, specifically the word 'monkey' + the suffix '-like', where 'monkey' meant 'a small to medium primate' and '-like' meant 'similar to' or 'having the nature of'.

'monkey' entered English in the 16th century from uncertain origins (possibly Low German or a nickname formation), while the suffix '-like' comes from Old English 'līc' (later '-lich') meaning 'similar' or 'form/appearance', and these elements combined in Modern English to form descriptive compounds such as 'monkeylike'.

Initially it was a literal composition meaning 'having the appearance or characteristics of a monkey', and over time it also adopted figurative senses such as 'playful' or 'mischievous'.