Where does “targetlessness” come from?

targetlessness (English) comes from English targetless, from English target, from Middle French targette, from Old French targe, from Frankish targa, from Old Norse targa, from Proto-Germanic targǭ, from Proto-Indo-European dʰōrgʰ- — to run.

targetlessness (English): Absence of a target

Definitions

  1. Absence of a target

Ancestry of “targetlessness”, step by step

targetlessness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English targetless

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtargetlessWithout a target
2EnglishtargetA butt or mark to shoot at, as for practice, or...
3Middle Frenchtargette
4Old Frenchtargebuckler
5Frankishtargabuckler; shield
6Old Norsetargatarget, small round shield
7Proto-Germanictargǭedge, rim, border
8Proto-Indo-Europeandʰōrgʰ-
9Proto-Indo-Europeandʰregʰ-to run

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 dʰregʰ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰōrgʰ-Every word from Old French targe