Where does “klem” come from?

klem (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch klem, from Middle Dutch clemme, from Proto-Germanic klampō — clamp, clasp, cramp.

klem (Afrikaans): to clamp, to squeeze

Definitions

  1. to clamp, to squeeze

Ancestry of “klem”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchklemclamp; stuck
2Middle Dutchclemme—
3Proto-Germanicklampōclamp, clasp, cramp
Every word from Proto-Germanic klampō →Every word from Middle Dutch clemme →Every word from Dutch klem →
klem — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer