Where does “ducklessness” come from?

ducklessness (English) comes from English duckless, from English Duck, from Dutch doek, from Middle Dutch doec, from Old Dutch duok, from Proto-West Germanic dōk, from Proto-Germanic dōkaz, from Proto-Indo-European dwōg-.

ducklessness (English): Absence of ducks

Definitions

  1. Absence of ducks

Ancestry of “ducklessness”, step by step

ducklessness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English duckless

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishducklessWithout ducks
2EnglishDuckTo quickly lower (the head or body), often in order to prevent it from being struck by something
3Dutchdoekcloth, linen, fabric; a piece of cloth; screen,...
4Middle Dutchdoeccloth
5Old Dutchduok
6Proto-West Germanicdōkcloth, rag
7Proto-Germanicdōkazcloth, rag
8Proto-Indo-Europeandwōg-

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 dwōg-
ducklessness — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer