Where does “riblessness” come from?
riblessness (English) comes from English ribless, from English RIB, from Middle English rib, from Old English ribb, from Proto-West Germanic ribb, from Proto-Germanic ribją, from Proto-Indo-European h₁rebʰ- — to cover, to roof; rib.
riblessness (English): Absence of ribs
Definitions
- Absence of ribs
Ancestry of “riblessness”, step by step
riblessness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English ribless
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ribless | Lacking ribs |
| 2 | English | RIB | Rigid inflatable boat — A lightweight inflatable... |
| 3 | Middle English | rib | — |
| 4 | Old English | ribb | rib |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | ribb | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | ribją | rib; reef, ridge |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁rebʰ- | to cover, to roof; rib |
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 |