Where does “wattleless” come from?

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

wattleless (English): Without a wattle or wattles

Definitions

  1. Without a wattle or wattles

Ancestry of “wattleless”, step by step

wattleless 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 wattle

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwattleA construction of branches and twigs woven...
2Middle Englishwattel
3Old Englishwatelwattle construction of branches and twigs woven together to form a wall, barrier, fence, or roof
Every word from Proto-Germanic *laus
wattleless — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer