Where does “clavicle” come from?

Clavicle derives from Middle French clavicule, from Latin clavicula, a diminutive of clavis meaning key, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)kleh₂w-.

clavicle (English): The collarbone; the prominent bone at the top of...

Definitions

  1. The collarbone; the prominent bone at the top of...

Ancestry of “clavicle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchclavicule—
2Latinclāviculathe tendril of a vine
3Latinclāvisa key
4Ancient GreekκλείςSomething used to lock/unlock: key, bolt, bar; A...
5Proto-Hellenicklāwī́ds—
6Proto-Indo-Europeankleh₂u-nail, pin, hook - instruments, of old use for...

Words derived from “clavicle”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂u- →Every word from Proto-Hellenic klāwī́ds →Every word from Ancient Greek κλείς →