'annelid-like' originates from modern English compounding of 'annelid' and the suffix '-like'. 'annelid' originates from New Latin 'Annelida', specifically the word 'annellus', where 'annellus' meant 'little ring'.

'annelid-like' developed as English adopted New Latin 'Annelida' → Latin 'annellus' ('little ring') → English 'annelid', then formed the compound with the productive English suffix '-like' to yield 'annelid-like'.

Initially the Latin root 'annellus' referred to a 'little ring' (referring to ringed body segments); over time this element led to 'annelid' meaning 'ringed/segmented worm' and the compound 'annelid-like' came to mean 'resembling an annelid'.