'male-like' originates from English, specifically from the word 'male' + the suffix '-like', where 'male' ultimately comes via Old French 'masle' from Latin 'masculus' meaning 'male', and the Old English/West Germanic element 'lic' (later '-like') meant 'having the form of'.

'male-like' developed from earlier compound forms in Middle English such as 'male-lich' or 'male-lyk' (using Old English/Old Norse/Old French-influenced elements) and eventually became the modern English hyphenated form 'male-like'.

Initially, the components meant 'having the form or nature of a male', and over time the compounded expression came to be used more generally as 'resembling or characteristic of a male' in contemporary usage.