Where does “cliffbound” come from?

cliffbound (English) comes from English bound, from Middle English bound, from Middle English band, from Old English bend, from Proto-Germanic bandiz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰendʰ- — to bind; bond.

cliffbound (English): Bounded by cliffs

Definitions

  1. Bounded by cliffs

Ancestry of “cliffbound”, step by step

cliffbound traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English bound

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishboundsimple past tense and past participle of bind;...
2Middle EnglishboundAlternative form of band
3Middle EnglishbandThat which obstructs one's free will and free...
4Old Englishbendbond, chain, fetter, band, ribbon, ornament,...
5Proto-Germanicbandizband
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰendʰ-to bind; bond

via English Cliff

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishCliffA diminutive of the male given name Clifford or Clifton
2Middle EnglishclyfA cliff; a heavily sloped hillside or...
3Old Englishclifa cliff; a group of rocks or crag
4Proto-West Germanic*klib
5Proto-Germanicklibącliff, rock
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰendʰ-
cliffbound — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer