different between sackless vs backless

English

Alternative forms

• saikless (Scottish)

Etymology

From Middle English sakles, sacless (“innocent”), from Old English sacl?as (“free from charge, innocent, safe”), from Proto-Germanic *sakalausaz (“free from accusation”), equivalent to sake +? -less. Cognate with Danish sagesløs (“blameless”), Swedish saklös (“blamesless”), Icelandic saklaus (“innocent”). More at sake, -less.

Adjective

sackless (comparative more sackless, superlative most sackless)

1. (provincial, Northern England, poetic or archaic) Blameless, guiltless, innocent.

   • The candles will burn bright.

   • 1900: Eiríkur Magnússon, William Morris, The Story of Grettir the Strong (page 149)

     […] and how Thorir of Garth would not that Grettir should be made sackless.

Usage notes

Though otherwise dated, the word sackless is still used in translations of the Old Norse / Old Icelandic sagas and related contexts.

References

• Northumberland Words, Oliver Heslop and Harry Haldane, 1894.

English

Etymology

back +? -less

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?bækl?s/

Adjective

backless (not comparable)

1. having no back, said of things that typically have backs, such as chairs or dresses

   a backless surgical gown

   • 1885, George Moore, A Mummer's Wife

     The apartment was almost dismantled; chairs lay backless about the floor amid china shepherdesses and toreadors; pictures were thrown over the sofa,...

2. (of a person) having an uncovered back, having a back that shows skin

Translations