'ducklike' originates from English, specifically the word 'duck' combined with the suffix '-like', where 'duck' originally meant 'diver' (from Old English) and '-like' meant 'having the likeness of'.

'duck' changed from Old English 'duce' (from the verb 'ducan' meaning 'to duck, dive') and the suffix '-like' comes from Old English '-līc'; these elements combined in Middle English to form the compound adjective 'ducklike'.

Initially related to the notion of a 'diver' (the bird), the compound came to mean generally 'resembling a duck' in appearance or behaviour, a usage that has remained stable.