scatheless

The story

1. Old Norse · derived fromskaðlauss
2. Middle English · inherited fromscatheles“unscathed”
3. English todayscatheless

Inherited from Middle English scatheles (“unscathed”), a calque of Old Norse skaðlauss; equivalent to scathe + -less, or scath + -less. Compare Scots skaithless (“free of financial loss, penalty or liability”), Old Frisian skadlos, schadlos (“scatheless”), Dutch schadeloos (“harmless”), Middle Low German schadelōs, Middle High German schadelōs, Danish skadesløs (“harmless”), Swedish skadeslös (“harmless”), Icelandic skaðlaus (“harmless”).