An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Klei

by Friedrich Kluge

Klei, m., ‘clay,’ ModHG. only, from LG. klei, ‘slime, loam, moist earth,’ allied to Du. klei, f., ‘marsh soil, clay, loam'; comp. E. clay, from AS. clœ̂g. An assumed Goth. *kladdja, f., may be connected with the root klai, by gradation klî, meaning ‘to cleave (to),’ which has a wider ramification in OTeut.; AS. clâm (from klaim), ‘loam, clay,’ E. (dial.) cloam, ‘pottery,’ OHG. chleimen, Scand. kleima, klîna, ‘to besmear’; comp. Kleister and klein. It corresponds in the non-Teut. languages to Gr. γλοι, by gradation γλι; comp. γλοιός, ‘oil lees, clammy stuff,’ as well as γλίνη and γλιά, ‘glue'; Lat. glus, gluten, with û for older oi; OSlov. glina, ‘clay,’ glěnŭ, ‘slime’ (Lett. glĭwe, ‘slime’?). Further MidHG. klënen, ‘to cleave (to), spread over,’ is connected with the Gr. and Slav. noun with the suffix na.