'like-new' originates from English, formed by combining the adjective 'like' (Old English 'gelīc') meaning 'similar' and 'new' (Old English 'nīwe') meaning 'recent'.

'like' developed from Old English 'gelīc' and 'new' from Old English 'nīwe'; the compound adjective 'like-new' arose in Modern English by compounding adjectives to describe the condition of objects.

Initially it literally meant 'similar to new'; over time it came to be used as an idiomatic/descriptive term meaning 'in almost new condition'.