'winglike' originates from Old English elements: 'wing' (from Old English 'wenge'/'wenge' meaning 'wing, appendage for flight') and the suffix '-like' (from Old English 'līc'), where 'wing' referred to the flight limb and '-like' meant 'having the form of'.

'wing' comes from Proto-Germanic *wengan/*wingan (referring to a flight limb) and entered Old English as 'wenge' (or similar forms); the suffix '-like' derives from Old English 'līc' (meaning 'body, likeness') and evolved into the productive Modern English suffix '-like', producing compound adjectives such as 'winglike'.

Initially, the combined form simply meant 'having the form or character of a wing'; over time it has remained stable and is used both literally (shape) and figuratively (resembling a wing in function or appearance).