'phrase-level' is a modern English compound formed from 'phrase' and 'level'. 'phrase' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'phrasis', where 'phrasis' meant 'manner of speaking'; 'level' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'livelle' (from Medieval Latin 'libella'), where 'livelle' meant 'small balance' (hence 'level' as a degree or plane).

'phrase' changed from Greek word 'phrasis' to Late Latin/Old French 'phrase' and then entered Middle English as 'phrase'; 'level' changed from Medieval Latin 'libella' to Old French 'livelle' and then to Middle English 'level'. These two elements were combined in Modern English as the compound 'phrase-level' in technical/linguistic usage.

Initially, 'phrase' meant 'manner of speaking' and later came to denote a grammatical unit ('phrase'); 'level' initially referred to a small balance (measure) and later to a plane or degree. Combined, 'phrase-level' came to mean 'pertaining to the level of phrases' in linguistic structure.