'sea-like' originates from Old English 'sǣ' (sea) combined with the suffix '-like' from Old English 'líc' meaning 'form' or 'shape'.

'sǣ' developed into Middle English 'see/sea', and Old English 'líc' evolved into the modern English suffix '-like', producing compounds such as 'sea-like'.

Initially formed simply as a compound meaning 'having the form of or like the sea'; it has remained largely stable and now generally means 'resembling or characteristic of the sea'.