claviform

claviform · adjective, noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*kelh₂-“to beat; to break”
2. Latin · derived fromclāva“a club”
3. Latin · derived fromclāvifōrmis“club-shaped, claviform”
4. English todayclaviform

The adjective is derived from Latin clāvifōrmis (“club-shaped, claviform”), from Latin clāva (“a club”) (from Proto-Indo-European *kelh₂- (“to beat; to break”)) + -fōrmis (suffix meaning ‘having the form of’) (equivalent to -form, -iform). The English word is cognate with French claviforme. By surface analysis, clav(a) + -i- + form. The noun is probably derived from the adjective.

claviform · adjective²

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*(s)kleh₂w-“a crook, hook; a peg”
2. Latin · derived fromclāvus“a nail (metal spike)”
3. Latin · derived fromclāvifōrmis“nail-shaped, claviform”
4. English todayclaviform

From Latin clāvifōrmis (“nail-shaped, claviform”) (attested since 1677), from Latin clāvus (“a nail (metal spike)”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kleh₂w- (“a crook, hook; a peg”), + -fōrmis (suffix meaning ‘having the form of’), equivalent to -form, -iform.

claviform · adjective³

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*(s)kleh₂w-“a crook, hook; a peg”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromκλείς“something used to lock and unlock, a bar, bolt, key”
3. Latin · derived fromclāvis“key”
4. Latin · derived fromclāvifōrmis“key-shaped, claviform”
5. English todayclaviform

From or cognate to Latin clāvifōrmis (“key-shaped, claviform”) (documented since at least 1844), from Latin clāvis (“key”) (either from Ancient Greek κλείς (kleís, “something used to lock and unlock, a bar, bolt, key”), or directly from its etymon Proto-Indo-European *(s)kleh₂w- (“a crook, hook; a peg”)) + -fōrmis (suffix meaning ‘having the form of’), equivalent to -form, -iform.

Words from the same roots