'aethalium-like' originates from the Greek word 'aithalos,' meaning 'soot' or 'smoke,' combined with the suffix '-ium' used in scientific terms to denote a structure or body.

'aithalos' transformed into the Latin 'aethalium,' referring to a specific type of fruiting body in slime molds, and eventually became the modern English term 'aethalium-like' to describe something resembling this structure.

Initially, it referred to the soot-like appearance of certain structures, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of resembling an aethalium.