Where does “máttlaus” come from?

máttlaus (Icelandic) comes from Icelandic máttur, from Old Norse máttr, from Proto-Germanic mahtiz, from Proto-Germanic mahtuz, from Proto-Indo-European mógʰtis, from Proto-Indo-European meǵʰ- — to be able.

máttlaus (Icelandic): mightless, weak

Definitions

  1. mightless, weak

Ancestry of “máttlaus”, step by step

máttlaus traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Icelandic máttur

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicmátturpower, strength
2Old Norsemáttrmight, strength
3Proto-Germanicmahtizpower, ability; strength, force
4Proto-Germanicmahtuzmight, power
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmógʰtis—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmeǵʰ-to be able

via Icelandic laus

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandiclausloose; free to go; available
2Old Norselaussloose
3Proto-Germaniclausazloose, free; empty, devoid; false, untrue
4Proto-Indo-EuropeanlewH-louse
Every word from Proto-Indo-European meǵʰ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European mógʰtis →Every word from Proto-Germanic mahtuz →