Where does “roachlike” come from?

roachlike (English) comes from English like, from Dutch luik, from Middle Dutch luke, from Dutch luiken, from Middle Dutch luken, from Old Dutch lūcan, from Proto-West Germanic lūkan, from Proto-Germanic lūkaną — to break, tear; to break, shatter.

roachlike (English): Resembling or characteristic of a roach

Definitions

  1. Resembling or characteristic of a roach

Ancestry of “roachlike”, step by step

roachlike traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English like

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlikeTo enjoy, be pleased by; favor; be in favor of;...
2Dutchluikhatch; shutter; panel, as in a triptych
3Middle Dutchluke
4Dutchluikento close, to shut
5Middle Dutchlukento close, to shut; to close, to become closed
6Old Dutchlūcanto close, shut
7Proto-West Germaniclūkanto close, to shut
8Proto-Germaniclūkanąto close, to shut; Alternative form of *leukaną
9Proto-Indo-Europeanlewǵ-to break, tear; to break, shatter

via English roach

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishroachCertain members of the fish family Cyprinidae,...
2Middle Englishroche
3Old Frenchrocherock
4Persianرخrook; cheek; face
5Middle Persianlhw'rook, castle
6Sanskritरथchariot, car, especially a two-wheeled...
7Proto-Indo-IranianHrátʰaschariot
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrót-h₂-os
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanHret-to roll; wheel; to run, roll
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewǵ-