'celery-like' originates from Modern English, formed by combining the noun 'celery' and the adjective-forming suffix '-like', where '-like' meant 'having the form or characteristics of'.

'Celery' entered English from French 'céleri', from Italian 'seleri', ultimately from Latin 'selinum' and Greek 'selinon' meaning 'parsley' or 'wild celery'. The suffix '-like' comes from Old English 'līc' meaning 'body, form' and developed into a productive suffix meaning 'similar to'.

Initially 'celery' referred to the plant itself; the compound 'celery-like' later developed to mean 'having qualities similar to celery' (flavor, smell, texture), a straightforward compositional meaning that has been preserved.