'limestone-like' originates from Modern English, specifically the element 'limestone' + the suffix '-like', where 'limestone' meant 'stone composed mainly of lime (calcium carbonate)' and '-like' meant 'having the characteristic of or resembling'.

'limestone' changed from Old English elements 'līm' (meaning 'lime') + 'stān' (meaning 'stone') into Middle English forms such as 'limstone' and eventually the modern English 'limestone'; the suffix '-like' comes from Old English 'līc' (meaning 'form' or 'appearance') and developed into the Modern English suffix '-like' used to form adjectives.

Initially 'limestone' referred specifically to 'stone composed of lime' and '-like' meant 'in the form of or similar to'; over time the compound 'limestone-like' came to be used to mean 'resembling or having properties of limestone' in general descriptive usage.