Where does “clencher” come from?
clencher (English) comes from English clench, from Middle English clenchen, from Old English clenċan, from Proto-Germanic klangijaną, from Proto-Indo-European gleh₁y-, from Proto-Indo-European gleh₁-, from Proto-Indo-European gewl-, from Proto-Indo-European gēw- — to bend, arch.
clencher (English): One who clenches
Ancestry of “clencher”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | clench | To grip or hold fast; To close tightly; Tight... |
| 2 | Middle English | clenchen | — |
| 3 | Old English | clenċan | to clinch; hold fast |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | klangijaną | to make stick, to make cling |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | gleh₁y- | to smear, putty; to stick, glue |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gleh₁- | ball, lump |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gewl- | vessel; ball; vessel, bowl, ball; ball, bowl,... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gēw- | to bend, arch |