'footwear-like' originates from English, specifically the word 'footwear' combined with the suffix '-like', where 'foot' originally meant 'foot' and 'wear' meant 'that which is worn', and the suffix '-like' meant 'having the form or characteristics of'.

'foot' comes from Old English 'fōt' and 'wear' relates to Old English 'werian' (to wear); the suffix '-like' derives from Old English 'līc' (body, form) and developed into the productive English suffix '-like', producing compounds such as 'footwear-like'.

Initially, the components conveyed the idea of 'that which is worn on the foot' plus 'like/characteristic of', and over time the compounded form has retained the meaning 'resembling footwear'.