Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “claves” come from?

claves (English) comes from Spanish claves, from Latin clāvis, from Ancient Greek κλείς, from Proto-Hellenic klāwī́ds, from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂u- — nail, pin, hook - instruments, of old use for...

claves (English): A percussion instrument, consisting of two sticks...

Definitions

  1. A percussion instrument, consisting of two sticks...

Ancestry of “claves”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishclavesplural of clave
2Latinclāvis—
3Ancient GreekκλείςSomething used to lock/unlock: key, bolt, bar; A...
4Proto-Hellenicklāwī́ds—
5Proto-Indo-Europeankleh₂u-nail, pin, hook - instruments, of old use for...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂u- →