'strike-friendly' originates from English, formed as a compound of 'strike' and 'friendly'. 'Strike' (verb/noun) comes from Old English 'strīcan' (earlier senses: to stroke, move lightly) and later Middle English 'striken' (to hit). 'Friendly' comes from Old English 'frēond' (friend) + adjectival suffix '-lic' (modern '-ly').

'strike' developed multiple senses in Middle and Early Modern English; the labor-related meaning 'to cease work in protest' emerged in the 18th–19th century (via usages like 'to strike the colors' or nautical senses such as lowering sails, and then figuratively refusing work). 'Friendly' evolved from Germanic roots meaning 'of a friend' to the modern adjective meaning 'supportive' or 'favorable'. The compound 'strike-friendly' is a modern English formation combining these elements to mean 'favorable to strikes'.

Initially, elements had meanings like 'to hit/move' ('strike') and 'of a friend' ('friendly'); over time 'strike' gained the specialized labor meaning 'to stop work in protest', and 'friendly' retained the sense 'supportive'—together now mean 'supportive of strike action'.