Where does “cleam” come from?
cleam (English) comes from Middle English clemen, from Old English clǣman, from Proto-West Germanic *klaimijan, from Proto-Germanic klaimijaną, from Proto-Germanic klaimaz, from Proto-Indo-European gleh₁y-, from Proto-Indo-European gleh₁-, from Proto-Indo-European gewl- — to bend, arch.
cleam (English): To smear, rub on, or anoint; to bedaub with an oily or sticky substance
Definitions
- To smear, rub on, or anoint; to bedaub with an oily or sticky substance
Ancestry of “cleam”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | clemen | To rub with plaster or stucco, especially for adherence |
| 2 | Old English | clǣman | to smear, bedaub |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | *klaimijan | to smear with clay, mortar |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | klaimijaną | to smear with clay, mortar |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | klaimaz | clay, mortar |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gleh₁y- | to smear, putty; to stick, glue |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gleh₁- | ball, lump |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gewl- | vessel; ball; vessel, bowl, ball; ball, bowl,... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | gēw- | to bend, arch |