Where does “klou” come from?
klou (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch klauw, from Middle Dutch clauwe, from Old Dutch klawa, from Proto-Germanic klawō, from Proto-Germanic klawjaną, from Proto-Indo-European glew-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.
klou (Afrikaans): claw; to clench, to cling
Definitions
- claw; to clench, to cling
Ancestry of “klou”, step by step
klou traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Dutch klauw
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | klauw | An animal's claw; A human hand |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | clauwe | — |
| 3 | Old Dutch | klawa | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | klawō | claw |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | klawjaną | to claw or scratch |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | glew- | Alternative form of *gley-; to amass,... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵel- | to swallow; swallow |
via French clou
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | clou | nail; clove; highlight, climax |
| 2 | Spanish | clavo | nail, spike; clove; corn |
| 3 | Old Spanish | clavo | — |
| 4 | Latin | clāvus | a nail (metal spike) |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | klāwos | capable of closing something |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kleh₂w- | a hook, crook, peg |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kel- | to bend, crook; bent, crooked; leg, heel, knee,... |