An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Klafter

by Friedrich Kluge

Klafter, neuter, masculine, and feminine, ‘fathom,’ from Middle High German klâfter, feminine, masculine, and neuter, Old High German chlâftra, feminine, ‘length of the outstretched arms, fathom’; for a similar development of meaning compare Elle, Faden, also Spanne and Fuß. Gothic *klêftra or *klêftri, feminine, is wanting, so too the corresponding forms in the cognate languages. Its connection with Anglo-Saxon clyppan, English to clip, ‘to embrace,’ Swiss χlupfel, ‘armful of hay’ (Teutonic root klē̆p), makes it probable that the word is related to Lithuanian glěbti, ‘to encircle with the arms,’ glėbýs, ‘armful,’ glóbti, ‘to embrace’ (root glêb). The Middle High German variant lâfter (lâhter), feminine and neuter, ‘fathom,’ is obscure.