Where does “pithless” come from?
pithless (English) comes from English pith, from English helmet, from Middle English helmet, from Old French helmet, from Old French helme, from Medieval Latin helmus, from Frankish helm, from Proto-Germanic helmaz — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.
pithless (English): Lacking strength or pith; weak; Not cogent
Definitions
- Lacking strength or pith; weak; Not cogent
Ancestry of “pithless”, step by step
pithless traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English pith
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | pith | The soft, spongy substance in the center of the... |
| 2 | English | helmet | A protective head covering, usually part of... |
| 3 | Middle English | helmet | A helmet; an armoured piece of headgear |
| 4 | Old French | helmet | — |
| 5 | Old French | helme | helmet |
| 6 | Medieval Latin | helmus | helmet |
| 7 | Frankish | helm | helmet |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | helmaz | helmet |
| 9 | Proto-Germanic | halmaz | halm; stem; stalk; straw; hay |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱolh₂mos | stalk |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱelh₂- | to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab |