Where does “легкодухий” come from?

легкодухий (Ukrainian) comes from Ukrainian дух, from Proto-Slavic duxъ, from Proto-Balto-Slavic daušás, from Proto-Indo-European dʰews-, from Proto-Indo-European dʰew- — to die, pass away; to run, flow.

легкодухий (Ukrainian): fainthearted, weak-kneed, weak-spirited

Definitions

  1. fainthearted, weak-kneed, weak-spirited

Ancestry of “легкодухий”, step by step

легкодухий traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Ukrainian дух

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ukrainianдухspirit; ghost
2Proto-Slavicduxъbreath; whiff; smell, odor
3Proto-Balto-Slavicdaušás—
4Proto-Indo-Europeandʰews-Alternative form of *dʰwes-; to lose one's...
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰew-to die, pass away; to run, flow

via Ukrainian легки́й

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ukrainianлегки́йlight, lightweight
2Proto-Slaviclьgъkъlight
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁lengʷʰ-light
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰew- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰews- →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic daušás →
легкодухий — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer