'musk-like' originates from English, formed from 'musk' (originally from Persian 'mushk') and the suffix '-like' (from Old English 'lic'), where 'mushk' meant 'musk (the aromatic gland or its scent)' and 'lic' meant 'having the form or quality of'.

'musk' passed into English via Old French and Latin (Persian 'mushk' → Greek 'moskhos' → Latin 'muscus' → Old French 'musch' → Middle English 'musk'), while the suffix '-like' developed from Old English 'lic' into the productive Modern English suffix '-like'.

Initially referring specifically to the musk substance or its odor, the compound 'musk-like' came to be used more generally for anything resembling or suggestive of that scent or quality.