'gazelle-like' originates from Modern English, specifically the word 'gazelle' combined with the suffix '-like', where 'gazelle' ultimately comes from Arabic 'ghazāl' meaning 'gazelle' and the suffix '-like' (from Old English) meant 'having the form of or similar to'.

'gazelle' passed into European languages from Arabic 'ghazāl' (via Old Spanish/Old French forms such as 'gacela'/'gazelle') and was adopted into English as 'gazelle'; the adjectival formation using '-like' produced 'gazelle-like' in Modern English.

Initially, 'gazelle' referred to the animal; combining it with the productive adjective-forming suffix '-like' created a word meaning 'resembling a gazelle', a meaning that has remained stable as a descriptive term for appearance or movement.