Where does “claymore” come from?

Claymore is an English word derived from Scottish Gaelic claidheamh, which comes from Proto-Celtic kladiwos, a term for a sword or blade.

claymore (English): A large two-handed sword historically used by the...

Definitions

  1. A large two-handed sword historically used by the...

Ancestry of “claymore”, step by step

claymore traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Scottish Gaelic claidheamh

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Scottish Gaelicclaidheamhsword
2Old Irishclaidebsword
3Proto-Celtickladiwossword
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab

via English Claymore

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishClaymoreAn American-made anti-personnel mine designed to lay down a wide arc of steel ball bearings in order to inflict casualties
2Scottish Gaelicclaidheamh-mòr—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- →Every word from Proto-Celtic kladiwos →Every word from Old Irish claideb →