'turf-like' is a compound of 'turf' and the suffix '-like'. 'turf' originates from Old English and Old Norse (Old Norse 'torfr'), where the root referred to 'a piece of sod or turf'; '-like' originates from Old English 'līc', where it meant 'body' or 'having the form of'.

'turf' appears in Old English as 'turf' and in Old Norse as 'torfr', and was retained into Middle English as 'turf'. The suffix '-like' comes from Old English 'līc' and Middle English 'lik(e)'; the modern adjectival compound 'turf-like' developed by combining the noun with the adjectival element.

Initially, 'turf' denoted a piece of sod (often used as fuel or ground cover) and '-like' meant 'having the form of.' Over time the compound 'turf-like' has come to mean 'resembling turf' in appearance or texture, including reference to synthetic turf surfaces.