Where does “shootlessness” come from?

shootlessness (English) comes from English shootless, from English shoot, from Middle English shoten, from Old English sċēotan, from Proto-West Germanic skeutan, from Proto-Germanic skeutaną, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewd- — to advance, push; to drive, propel.

shootlessness (English): Absence of shoots

Definitions

  1. Absence of shoots

Ancestry of “shootlessness”, step by step

shootlessness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English shootless

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishshootlessWithout shoots
2EnglishshootTo launch a projectile; To move or act quickly or...
3Middle Englishshoten
4Old Englishsċēotanto shoot
5Proto-West Germanicskeutanto shoot
6Proto-Germanicskeutanąto shoot
7Proto-Indo-European(s)kewd-to advance, push; to drive, propel

via English Ness

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishNessAn 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
2Middle Englishnesse
3Old Englishnæsnot, not at all; not; first/third-person singular...
4Proto-Germanicnasjąfoothill; headland; cape
5Proto-Indo-Europeannéh₂snose
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewd-Every word from Proto-Germanic skeutanąEvery word from Proto-West Germanic skeutan