'capillary-like' originates from English as a compound of 'capillary' and the suffix '-like'; 'capillary' ultimately comes from Latin 'capillaris', where 'capillus' meant 'hair', and the adjectival suffix '-like' comes from Old English 'lic' meaning 'having the form of'.

'capillary' was borrowed into English from Latin (via scientific/learned use, ultimately from Latin 'capillaris' < 'capillus' 'hair') and later combined in English with the native suffix '-like' (from Old English 'lic'), yielding the modern compound 'capillary-like'.

Initially related to 'hair' or 'hair-like' (from Latin 'capillus'), the idea broadened in scientific and descriptive usage to mean 'resembling capillaries' or 'showing capillary action', which is the modern sense of 'capillary-like'.