the word 'toothless' is a transparent compound formed within english from its germanic roots. the first element, 'tooth', descends from proto-germanic 'tanþs', which itself originates from the proto-indo-European root 'h₃dónts', meaning 'tooth'. the suffix '-less' derives from the old english adjective '-lēas', meaning 'devoid of', which is related to the verb 'to lose'. the literal combination, 'devoid of teeth', has been in use since old english. over time, this concrete physical meaning naturally extended into a metaphorical sense, describing anything—such as a law, argument, or organization—that is ineffective or lacks real power, much like an animal without teeth cannot bite.

Structure: tooth (hard structure in the mouth) + less (without) tooth (from old english 'tōþ', of germanic origin; a noun denoting a hard structure in the jaw used for biting and chewing) + less (from old english '-lēas', of germanic origin; an adjective-forming suffix meaning 'devoid of', 'free from', 'without').