Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cloam” come from?

cloam (English) comes from Middle English clam, from Old English clām, from Proto-West Germanic *klaim, from Proto-Germanic klaimaz, from Proto-Indo-European gleh₁y-, from Proto-Indo-European gleh₁-, from Proto-Indo-European gewl-, from Proto-Indo-European gēw- — to bend, arch.

cloam (English): Clay; Earthenware; Of earthenware

Definitions

  1. Clay; Earthenware; Of earthenware

Ancestry of “cloam”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishclampincers, vice, clamp; viscous, sticky; slimy
2Old Englishclāmclay, mud; paste, mortar, mud, clay, poultice
3Proto-West Germanic*klaim—
4Proto-Germanicklaimazclay, mortar
5Proto-Indo-Europeangleh₁y-to smear, putty; to stick, glue
6Proto-Indo-Europeangleh₁-ball, lump
7Proto-Indo-Europeangewl-vessel; ball; vessel, bowl, ball; ball, bowl,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeangēw-to bend, arch
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gēw- →