'liquid-like' originates from English compounding of 'liquid' and the suffix '-like'. 'Liquid' ultimately derives from Latin 'liquidus', where 'liqu-' (from 'liquere') meant 'to be fluid' and '-like' comes from Old English '-līc' meaning 'body, form' and later 'similar to'.

'liquid' came into Middle English via Old French/Latin from Latin 'liquidus'; the modern compound 'liquid-like' was formed in English by combining the noun/adjective 'liquid' with the native suffix '-like' to mean 'similar to a liquid'.

Initially, 'liquid' meant 'flowing' or 'fluid' in the sense of physical liquids, and '-like' meant 'similar to'; the compound preserved that sense, evolving into the modern adjectival use meaning 'resembling a liquid' and extending into figurative and technical senses.