Where does “motleyness” come from?
motleyness (English) comes from English motley, from Middle English motle, from Anglo-Norman motteley, from Old English mōt, from Proto-Germanic mōtą, from Proto-Indo-European meh₂d- — to be wet, to become wet; to meet, approach,...
motleyness (English): Quality of being motley
Definitions
- Quality of being motley
Ancestry of “motleyness”, step by step
motleyness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English motley
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | motley | Comprising greatly varied elements, to the point... |
| 2 | Middle English | motle | — |
| 3 | Anglo-Norman | motteley | parti-colored |
| 4 | Old English | mōt | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | mōtą | meeting |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | meh₂d- | to be wet, to become wet; to meet, approach,... |
via English Ness
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ness | An 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 |
| 2 | Middle English | nesse | — |
| 3 | Old English | næs | not, not at all; not; first/third-person singular... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nasją | foothill; headland; cape |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | néh₂s | nose |