'vein-like' is a compound formed from 'vein' and the adjective-forming element 'like'. 'Vein' originates from Old French 'veine', from Latin 'vena', where 'vena' meant 'vein' (a blood vessel or vein-like seam). 'Like' originates from Old English 'līc' (later Middle English 'lik(e)'), where 'līc' meant 'body, form' and developed into the sense 'similar to'.

'vein' developed from Latin 'vena' → Old French 'veine' → Middle English 'vein'. 'Like' developed from Old English 'līc' → Middle English 'lik(e)' and was used both as a standalone adjective and as a suffix/element to form compounds. The modern compound 'vein-like' arose by combining these two elements to mean 'similar to a vein'.

Initially, 'vena' referred specifically to a blood vessel; 'līc' referred to body or form. Over time, combining them produced a descriptive compound whose meaning settled as 'resembling a vein' and broadened to cover vein-like patterns, seams, or structures in various contexts (biological, geological, material).