'ditch-like' originates from the English word 'ditch,' which refers to a narrow channel dug in the ground, and the suffix '-like,' which means 'resembling or similar to.'

The word 'ditch' has been used in English since the Middle Ages, derived from the Old English 'dic,' meaning 'dike' or 'trench.' The suffix '-like' has been used in English to form adjectives since the 14th century.

Initially, 'ditch' referred to a trench or channel, and the suffix '-like' has consistently been used to indicate resemblance, maintaining its meaning over time.