Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cloth” come from?

Cloth comes from Old English clāþ, from Proto-Germanic klaiþą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gley-, a root also connected to gel- meaning to ball up or form into a lump.

cloth (English): A woven fabric such as used in dressing,...

Definitions

  1. A woven fabric such as used in dressing,...

Ancestry of “cloth”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishcloþAlternative form of cloth; cloth, garment
2Old Englishclāþcloth, clothes, covering, sail
3Proto-Germanicklaiþącloth
4Proto-Indo-Europeangleyt-to cling to, cleave, stick
5Proto-Indo-Europeangley-to glue, paste, stick together; to glue, stick...
6Proto-Indo-Europeangel-to be cold, to freeze

Words derived from “cloth”

  • broadcloth
  • washcloth
  • oilcloth
  • cheesecloth
  • neckcloth
  • loincloth
  • sailcloth
  • dishcloth
  • backcloth
  • haircloth
  • breechcloth
  • clothbound
  • headcloth
  • waistcloth
  • facecloth
  • saddlecloth
  • cerecloth
  • floorcloth
  • clothyard
  • clothmaking
  • clothworker
  • horsecloth
  • hammercloth
  • footcloth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gel- →