Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “glossless” come from?

glossless (English) comes from English gloss, from Middle English glosse, from Late Latin glossa, from Ancient Greek γλῶσσα, from Old Norse glotta, from Proto-Germanic glutōną, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰel- — to shine, glimmer, glow; to shimmer, gleam;...

glossless (English): Lacking gloss

Definitions

  1. Lacking gloss

Ancestry of “glossless”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishglossA surface shine or luster; A superficially or...
2Middle Englishglosse—
3Late Latinglossagloss; obsolete or foreign word requiring...
4Ancient Greekγλῶσσαa tongue; a language; the mouthpiece of a pipe
5Old Norseglottato grin, smile scornfully
6Proto-GermanicglutōnąTo stare; gawk
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰel-to shine, glimmer, glow; to shimmer, gleam;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰel- →