'psittacine-like' originates from modern English as a compound of 'psittacine' and the suffix '-like'. 'Psittacine' comes via Modern Latin 'psittacinus' from Greek 'psittakinos' (from 'psittax' meaning 'parrot'), and the suffix '-like' derives from Old English 'līc' meaning 'body' or 'form'.

'psittacine' developed from Greek 'psittakos' ('parrot') into Late/Medieval Latin 'psittacinus' and then into English as 'psittacine'; '-like' comes from Old English 'līc' which produced the Middle English adjectival suffix '-like', and these elements combined in Modern English to form 'psittacine-like'.

Initially the roots referred specifically to 'parrot' (the Greek/Latin elements) and 'body/form' (Old English '-līc'); combined in Modern English they mean 'having the form or qualities of a parrot', a sense that has remained consistent.