'ringwise' originates from English, specifically the words 'ring' + '-wise', where 'ring' meant 'a circular band' and '-wise' meant 'in the manner of'.

'ring' comes from Old English 'hring' and '-wise' from Old English 'wīs' ('manner'); in Middle English the compound appeared in forms such as 'ring-wis' or 'ringwise', which developed into the modern English 'ringwise'.

Initially it meant 'in the manner of a ring' or 'in rings', and over time it has retained the core sense of 'in a ring' or 'circularly'.