'school-friendly' originates from Modern English, formed as a compound of 'school' and 'friendly'; 'school' ultimately comes from Latin 'schola' (from Greek 'scholē') where the root meant 'leisure, lecture' and later 'place of learning', and 'friendly' comes from Old English 'frēond'/'freond' meaning 'friend'.

'school' changed from Old English 'scolu' (borrowed via Latin 'schola' from Greek 'scholē') and 'friendly' developed from Old English 'frēond' → Middle English 'frendli' → modern 'friendly'; the compound 'school-friendly' is a modern English formation (20th century onward) combining these elements to describe suitability for schools.

Initially, 'school' referred to a place of learning and leisure, and 'friendly' meant 'like a friend'; over time the compound 'school-friendly' came to mean specifically 'suitable or appropriate for school settings' (emphasizing safety, age-appropriateness, and educational suitability).