The word 'cattle-like' is a compound word formed by combining 'cattle' with the suffix '-like', which is used to form adjectives meaning 'resembling or characteristic of'.

The word 'cattle' comes from the Old French 'catel', which meant 'property' or 'chattel', and was used to refer to livestock. The suffix '-like' has been used in English since the Old English period to form adjectives.

Initially, 'cattle' referred to any livestock, but over time it has come to specifically mean 'bovine animals'. The suffix '-like' has consistently meant 'resembling'.