'womanly' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'wīfmannlic,' where 'wīf' meant 'woman' and 'mann' meant 'person.'

'wīfmannlic' transformed into the Middle English word 'wommanlich,' and eventually became the modern English word 'womanly.'

Initially, it meant 'pertaining to a woman,' and over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'having qualities traditionally associated with women.'