'custard-like' originates from English, combining 'custard' and the suffix '-like'. 'custard' comes (via Anglo-Norman/Old French) from words such as 'croustade' meaning 'a tart', and the suffix '-like' ultimately comes from Old English 'līc' meaning 'body, form' (later grammaticalized to mean 'similar to' or 'having the nature of').

'custard' developed in Middle English from Anglo-Norman/Old French terms like 'croustade' (originally referring to a tart or crust-based dish) and came to denote the creamy egg-and-milk preparation; the productive suffix '-like' (from Old English 'līc') was then attached to form adjectives such as 'custard-like' meaning 'similar to custard'.

Initially, related forms referred to a tart or crusted dish ('croustade'); over time 'custard' came to mean the creamy egg-and-milk dessert, and 'custard-like' came to mean 'having the qualities of that creamy dessert' (texture, color, or mild sweetness).