Where does “stainless” come from?
Stainless derives from English stain plus the suffix -les, from Middle English -les and Old English -lēas meaning "without," ultimately from Proto-Germanic lausaz and Proto-Indo-European lewH-.
stainless (English): Describing an alloy that is resistant to...
Definitions
- Describing an alloy that is resistant to...
Ancestry of “stainless”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | stain | A discoloured spot or area; A blemish on one's... |
| 2 | Middle English | steinen | to stain |
| 3 | Old Norse | steina | to stain, colour, paint |
| 4 | Old Norse | Steinn | a stone, boulder, rock |
| 5 | Proto-Norse | ᛊᛏᚨᛁᚾᚨᛉ | stone |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | stainaz | stone |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | steyh₂- | to stiffen |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | steh₂- | to stand |