'dragonfly-like' originates from modern English, specifically formed by compounding the noun 'dragonfly' and the adjective-forming suffix '-like'.

'dragonfly-like' developed in modern English from the compound 'dragonfly' (itself from 'dragon' + 'fly', attested from the 16th century) combined with the suffix '-like' (from Old English 'līc'), resulting in the adjective 'dragonfly-like'.

Initially the components referred separately to 'dragon' and 'fly' and the suffix '-like' meant 'having the form of'; over time the compound's sense stabilized to mean 'having the form or qualities of a dragonfly'.