Where does “пустоцвет” come from?

пустоцвет (Russian) comes from Russian цвет, from Old East Slavic цвѣтъ, from Proto-Slavic květъ, from Proto-Indo-European ḱwoyt-o-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱweyt- — to shine.

пустоцвет (Russian): barren flower, unfertile flower; useless person

Definitions

  1. barren flower, unfertile flower; useless person

Ancestry of “пустоцвет”, step by step

пустоцвет traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Russian цвет

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianцветcolour; blossom, bloom, flower; flower, cream,...
2Old East Slavicцвѣтъflower
3Proto-Slavickvětъbright color, light; color, bloom, flower
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱwoyt-o-white, light
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱweyt-to shine

via Russian пусто́й

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianпусто́йfutile
2Old East Slavicпоустъ—
3Proto-Slavicpȗstъdesolate; empty
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱweyt- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱwoyt-o- →Every word from Proto-Slavic květъ →