An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Kloß

by Friedrich Kluge

Kloß, masculine, ‘clod, dumpling,’ from Middle High German klôȥ, masculine and neuter, ‘lump, bulb, clew, bullet, pommel of a sword, wedge,’ Old High German chlôȥ, masculine, ‘ball, round mass, bowl (at play)’; corresponding to Middle Low German klûte, Dutch kloot, masculine, ‘bullet, ball.’ Anglo-Saxon *cleát, English cleat, ‘wedge’ (Icelandic klót, ‘pommel of a sword,’ has an abnormal ô for au, which indicates that the word has been borrowed, unless it is cognate with Latin glâdius). Gothic *klauta- is wanting; the Teutonic root klut appears also in the following word.