Etymology

backless

B3A1C3K5L1E1S1S1

Today it means: Having no back, especially where one would be expected, as with a chair or a dress. Full definition →

Proto-Germanic *lausaz ← Proto-Indo-European *lewHs- ← English back
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeg-der.?
  2. Proto-Germanic*baką
  3. Proto-West Germanic*bak
  4. Old Englishbæc
  5. Middle Englishbak
  6. Englishback
  7. Proto-Indo-European*lewh₁-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*lewHs-
  9. Proto-Germanic*leusaną
  10. Proto-Germanic*lausaz
  11. English todaybackless

From back + -less.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.