Where does “snatchless” come from?

snatchless (English) comes from English less, from Middle English les, from Old English lēas, from Proto-Germanic *laus.

snatchless (English): Without a snatch

Definitions

  1. Without a snatch

Ancestry of “snatchless”, step by step

snatchless traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

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

via English snatch

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsnatchTo grasp and remove quickly; To attempt to seize...
2Middle EnglishsnacchenTo snatch (quickly seize or grab)
3Old Englishsnæċċanto bite, as to taste; nibble
4Proto-Germanicsnakkijaną
Every word from Proto-Germanic *lausEvery word from Old English lēasEvery word from Middle English les