Barkless

/ˈbɑrklɪs/ adjective

Definition

Without bark; stripped of bark, or (of a dog) unable or unwilling to bark.

Etymology

From 'bark' plus the privative suffix '-less,' meaning 'without.' This straightforward construction has existed in English for centuries to express absence of qualities.

Kelly Says

Some dog breeds like Basenjis are naturally 'barkless,' producing unique yodel-like sounds instead—a reminder that language itself is less useful for describing nature's variations than the creatures demonstrate through living reality.

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