Where does “powderless” come from?

powderless (English) comes from English powder, from Middle English poudre, from Old French poudre, from Late Latin pulvera, from Latin pulvis, from Proto-Indo-European pel- — to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold.

powderless (English): Without the use or presence of powder

Definitions

  1. Without the use or presence of powder

Ancestry of “powderless”, step by step

powderless traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English powder

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpowderThe fine particles which are the result of...
2Middle Englishpoudrepowder; The results of the decomposition of one's...
3Old Frenchpoudrepowder; dust
4Late Latinpulvera
5Latinpulvisdust, powder; an arena, place of contest
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpel-to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold

via English less

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlessTo a smaller extent or degree; comparative form...
2Middle Englishlesfalse; lying; deceptive; falsehood; a lie
3Old Englishlēasfalse, lax; false, void, loose; devoid of, loose...
4Proto-Germanic*laus
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pel-
powderless — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer