'vowel-like' originates from the English word 'vowel' combined with the suffix '-like', where 'vowel' refers to a speech sound produced without blocking the breath channel and '-like' means 'resembling or similar to'.

'vowel' comes from the Latin word 'vocalis', meaning 'vocal', and '-like' is a common English suffix used to form adjectives indicating similarity.

Initially, it meant 'similar to a vowel sound', and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.