'snake-like' is a compound of 'snake' and the suffix '-like'. 'snake' originates from Old English 'snaca', and '-like' derives from Old English suffix '-līc' meaning 'having the form of'.

'snake' came from Old English 'snaca' (from Proto-Germanic *snak-an), became Middle English 'snake' and then modern English 'snake'. The adjectival suffix '-līc' in Old English evolved into the productive English suffix '-like' in Middle English, forming compounds meaning 'similar to'. Together they formed descriptive compounds such as 'snake-like'.

Originally, 'snake' simply named the reptile and '-līc' indicated form; combined they initially meant 'having the form of a snake'. Over time the compound kept that literal sense and also developed figurative senses (e.g. sly or treacherous behavior).