'antherlike' originates from English, specifically the word 'anther' combined with the suffix '-like', where 'anther' ultimately comes from Greek 'anthēr' (from 'anthos' meaning 'flower') and the suffix '-like' derives from Old English '-lic' meaning 'having the form of' or 'like'.

'anther' passed into scientific Latin/Neo-Latin as 'anthera' (from Greek 'anthēr'), then into Middle/Modern English as 'anther'. The suffix '-like' comes from Old English '-lic' → Middle English '-lik(e)' → modern English '-like', and the compound 'antherlike' is formed in modern English by combining them.

Initially the root referred broadly to flower-related parts ('flower' via Greek), and over time 'anther' narrowed to the pollen-bearing part of the stamen; 'antherlike' therefore came to mean 'having the appearance or form of an anther', a meaning consistent with its components.