'prosimian-like' originates from Neo-Latin/modern English, specifically the word 'prosimian' (formed from Neo-Latin 'Prosimiae'), where 'pro-' meant 'before' and Latin 'simius' meant 'ape'. The suffix '-like' is from Old English '-lic' used to form adjectives meaning 'having the nature of'.

'prosimian' changed from Neo-Latin 'Prosimiae' into French 'prosimien' and entered English as 'prosimian' in the late 19th century; combining this with the English adjectival suffix '-like' produced 'prosimian-like' to mean 'resembling a prosimian'.

Initially, related terms referred to animals considered 'before apes' (primitive primates); over time the compound adjective 'prosimian-like' came to mean 'resembling or having characteristics of prosimians' rather than implying direct ancestry.