Etymology

cliff

C3L1I1F4F4

Today it means: A vertical (or nearly vertical) rock face. Full definition →

Middle English clyf ← Old English clif ← Proto-West Germanic *klib
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cliff · noun1

  1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*klibą
  2. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*klib
  3. Old English · inherited fromclif
  4. Middle English · inherited fromclyf
  5. English todaycliff

From Middle English clyf, from Old English clif, from Proto-West Germanic *klib, from Proto-Germanic *klibą.

Cliff · proper noun2

The given name is from shortenings of the diminutives. The surname is from the noun cliff.

Words from the same roots

Old Englishclif all →

CliftonCliffordCliffeCleveley

Proto-Germanic*klibą all →

clevesKleveKlipp

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.