Where does “clean” come from?

Clean comes from Middle English clene, from Old English clǣne, from Proto-Germanic klainiz, from Proto-Indo-European gley-, gel-, gewl-, and ultimately gū-.

clean (English): "Free of dirt or impurities or protruberances.";...

Definitions

  1. "Free of dirt or impurities or protruberances.";...

Ancestry of “clean”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcleneclean
2Old Englishclǣnepure, clear; clean, pure
3Proto-Germanicklainizshining, fine, splendid; tender, precious
4Proto-Indo-Europeang(e)lēi-gleaming
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow

Words derived from “clean”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European g(e)lēi- →Every word from Proto-Germanic klainiz →