'cedary' originates from English, specifically formed from the noun 'cedar' plus the adjectival suffix '-y'; 'cedar' itself comes via Latin 'cedrus' and Old French 'cedre' from Greek 'kedros' meaning 'juniper/cedar-like tree'.

'cedar' changed from Greek word 'kedros' into Latin 'cedrus', then Old French 'cedre', and eventually became the modern English word 'cedar'; the adjective 'cedary' developed in English by adding the suffix '-y' to 'cedar'.

Initially related to the name of the tree ('cedar'), but over time the derived adjective came to mean 'having the smell or qualities of cedar' rather than only 'of the cedar tree'.