'Ilex-like' originates from Latin/modern botanical Latin, specifically the word 'ilex', where 'ilex' referred to a type of tree (classically the holm oak) and later became the botanical genus name for hollies; the English suffix '-like' (from Old English '-lic') means 'having the nature of' or 'resembling'.

The Latin word 'ilex' (used for the holm oak) was adopted into botanical Latin as the genus name 'Ilex' for hollies; English formed the descriptive adjective by combining the genus name 'Ilex' with the native English suffix '-like' to create 'Ilex-like'.

Initially 'ilex' in Latin primarily referred to the holm oak, but through botanical usage it became associated with the genus of hollies; consequently 'Ilex-like' now means 'resembling hollies' rather than 'resembling holm oak'.