Etymology

Velar /k/ in this word is explained by most authorities as a native development, and thus derived simply from OE gelīc ‘like, alike’ (so OED, Bj., TGD, GDS). It could potentially be taken to signify ON input, but because it is non-initial it is not a sure test. MED offers as sources both OE and ON, cp. OIcel líkr, earlier glíkr ‘like, alike’ (cp. further Go galeiks, OFris (ge)līk, OS gilīk, OHG galīh), and OED3's revised entry also allows for the possibility of both the ON and an aphetic form of the native cognate as sources. ODEE appears to derive solely from ON.

PGmc Ancestor

*(ga)līka-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

líkr ‘like, alike’
(ONP glíkr (adj.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far líkur, Icel líkur, Norw lik, Dan lig, Sw lik

OE Cognate

gelīc ‘like, alike’ 

Phonological and morphological markers

[absence of palatalization of */k/] (possibly diagnostic)

Summary category

CCC2c

Attestation

MED cites a large number of unambiguous /k/ forms, from as early as Orrm; these are most predictable in N and E texts, but they occur widely and are the norm in Chaucer.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Gaw 187, 498; Pe 432, 501, 735, etc.; Cl 212, 261, 790 etc.; Pat 493; WA 240, 599, 654 etc.

On interpretation of Pat 493, see Anderson 493n.

Bibliography

MED līk (adj.) , OED3 like (adj., adv., prep. and conj. and n.2) , HTOED , Dance lyke, ODEE like (1), Bj. 147n.2, de Vries líkr, Mag. líkur (1), Bj-L. lik (2), Heid. -līka-, Orel *līkaz, Kroonen *līka- (2), AEW līc (2)