Where does “clever-clever” come from?

clever-clever (English) comes from English clever, from Middle English cliver, from Old English clifer — claw, hand.

clever-clever (English): Showily or ostentatiously clever

Definitions

  1. Showily or ostentatiously clever

Ancestry of “clever-clever”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcleverNimble with hands or body; skillful; adept;...
2Middle Englishclivertenacious
3Old Englishcliferclaw, hand
Every word from Old English clifer →Every word from Middle English cliver →Every word from English clever →