clay

clay · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*gleyH-
2. Proto-Indo-European*gloyHós
3. Proto-Germanic*klajjaz
4. Proto-West Germanic*klaij
5. Old Englishclǣġ
6. Middle Englishcley
7. English todayclay

From Middle English cley, clay, from Old English clǣġ (“clay”), from Proto-West Germanic *klaij, from Proto-Germanic *klajjaz (“clay”), derived from Proto-Indo-European *gleyH- (“to glue, paste, stick together”). Cognate with Dutch klei (“clay”), Low German Klei (“clay”), German Klei, Danish klæg (“clay”); compare Ancient Greek γλία (glía), Latin glūten (“glue”) (whence ultimately English glue), Russian глина (glina, “clay”). Related also to clag, clog.

Clay · proper noun²

1. Old English · inherited fromclǣġ“clay”
2. English todayClay

From a Middle English occupational name for a clay worker, or a habitational name, from Old English clǣġ (“clay”).

Words from the same roots