Etymology Explorer › English

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

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
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pel- →