Where does “breechlessness” come from?

breechlessness (English) comes from English breechless, from English breech, from Middle English breche, from Old English bryċe, from Proto-West Germanic bruki, from Proto-Germanic brūkiz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰruHg- — to make use of; have enjoyment of.

breechlessness (English): Absence of breeches

Definitions

  1. Absence of breeches

Ancestry of “breechlessness”, step by step

breechlessness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English breechless

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbreechlessNot having any breeches; Not wearing breeches;...
2EnglishbreechA garment whose purpose is to cover or clothe the...
3Middle EnglishbrecheAlternative form of birche
4Old Englishbryċefracture, breach; breach; breaking
5Proto-West Germanicbrukibreak
6Proto-Germanicbrūkizuseful, useable
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanbʰruHg-to make use of; have enjoyment of

via English Ness

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishNessAn Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa
2Middle Englishnesse
3Old Englishnæsnot, not at all; not; first/third-person singular...
4Proto-Germanicnasjąfoothill; headland; cape
5Proto-Indo-Europeannéh₂snose
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰruHg-
breechlessness — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer