'starchless' originates from English, specifically a compound of 'starch' + the suffix '-less' (meaning 'without').

'starch' comes from Old English 'stearc' (meaning 'strong, stiff'), which through Middle English became 'starch'; adding the adjective-forming suffix '-less' (Old English '-lēas') produced the modern compound 'starchless'.

Initially, 'starch' referred to 'stiffness' or 'strength' and later to the substance used to stiffen cloth; 'starchless' has the straightforward modern meaning 'without starch'.