The invention relates to a shuttleless weaving machine with a reciprocating filling yarn inserting gripping member or rapier and a reciprocating pulling out gripping member or rapier forming a gripper device (1). In order to shorten the waste in filling yarn and to present a filling yarn (S1) selected by a yarn feed system in a specific position, the feed system forms a fanning-out arrangement in such a manner that each of the yarn guides (3), when in its operational position (3'), always assumes the same position. A holding device (8) for the cut-off end of the selected filling yarn (S1) is made to sufficiently yield the held yarn end, whereby the yarn end held by the holding device (8) can be retracted a distance by a controlled yarn retraction system (4, 12). The yarn retraction system (4, 12) is located between the path of the gripper device (1) and the yarn guides (3) of the feed system.