Definition of toothless

The word "toothless" comes from the Old English word "tóðlōs," which means "lacking in teeth." The origin of this word can be traced back to the Old English language, which was spoken in England before the Norman Conquest in 1066. In Old English, the word "tóð" referred to a tooth, and the suffix "-lōs" indicated a lack of something. Thus, the compound word "tóðlōs" literally meant "lacking in teeth." Over time, the English language evolved, and this Old English word for toothlessness fell out of use. However, it was revived during the Middle English period (1100-1500) and began to appear in written texts again. The modern English word "toothless" is essentially a descendant of the Old English word "tóðlōs," albeit with some changes in spelling and pronunciation. So, the next time you come across the word "toothless," you can remember that it has roots in Old English and that it represents a lack of those important pearly whites that we all have (or used to have, in some cases!).