Etymograph

English

cliff

Cliff comes from Middle English clyf ‘a cliff’, from Proto-Germanic *klībaną ‘to stick’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gleybʰ-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gleybʰ-‘to stick’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*klībaną‘to stick’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*klibą‘cliff, rock’reconstructed
  4. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*klibreconstructed
  5. Old Englishc. 450–1150clif‘a cliff’
  6. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500clyf‘a cliff’
  7. Englishtodaycliff

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gleybʰ-‘to stick’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*klībaną‘to stick’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*klibą‘cliff, rock’reconstructed
  4. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*klibreconstructed
  5. Old Englishc. 450–1150clif‘a cliff’
  6. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500clyf‘a cliff’
  7. Englishtodaycliff

Linked words

through Proto-Germanic *klībaną ‘to stick’

climbing, clive, climber, 2 more

Today it means

noun A vertical (or nearly vertical) rock face.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gleybʰ- / cliff

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