Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “clavis” come from?

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

clavis (English): A Roman key; A device for restraint of the hands;...

Definitions

  1. A Roman key; A device for restraint of the hands;...

Ancestry of “clavis”, step by step

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