'amber-like' is formed in English by combining 'amber' (from Old French 'ambre', from Arabic 'ʿanbar') and the suffix '-like', which means 'resembling or similar to'.

'Amber' entered English via Old French and Arabic, while '-like' is a native English suffix. The compound 'amber-like' was created in modern English to describe something resembling amber.

Initially, it simply meant 'like amber' in appearance or quality, and this meaning has remained consistent.