stingless

stingless

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

English sting

Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁-

Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der.

Proto-Germanic *leusaną

Proto-Germanic *lausaz

Proto-Germanic *-lausaz

Proto-West Germanic *-laus

Old English -lēas

Middle English -les

English -less

English stingless

From sting + -less.

Adjective

stingless (not comparable)

Having no sting.
- 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
  Cassius. […] for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
  And leave them honeyless.
  Antony. Not stingless too.
  Brutus. O yes, and soundless too;
  For you have stol’n their buzzing, Antony,
  And very wisely threat before you sting.

Derived terms