'crone-like' originates from English, specifically the noun 'crone' plus the suffix '-like', where 'crone' meant 'an old (usually unpleasant) woman' and '-like' meant 'having the quality of or resembling'.

'crone' comes from Middle English (late 14th century) 'crone', influenced by Old North French 'carogne' meaning 'carrion' (related to 'carrion'); over time the sense shifted to refer to a disagreeable or scolding old woman, and the adjective-forming suffix '-like' (Old English/Old Norse/Germanic origin) was appended to form compound adjectives such as 'crone-like'.

Initially associated with derogatory senses linked to 'carrion' or an unpleasant creature, it evolved into the specific sense 'an unpleasant or witchlike old woman', and the compound 'crone-like' now means 'resembling such an old woman'.