'leaflike' originates from Old English element 'leaf' (Old English 'lēaf') combined with the suffix '-like' (from Old English 'līc'/'-lic'), where 'lēaf' meant 'leaf' and '-līc' meant 'having the form or likeness of'.

'leaf' comes from Old English 'lēaf' and remained as 'leaf' in Middle to Modern English; the adjectival suffix '-līc' developed into Middle English '-liche' and later the modern suffix '-like', producing compounds such as 'leaflike' in Early Modern English.

Initially it meant 'having the form or appearance of a leaf', and over time it has retained this basic meaning of 'resembling a leaf' in modern usage.