Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “glom” come from?

glom (English) comes from Scottish English glaum, from English clam, 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- — to bend, arch.

glom (English): To steal, to grab; To stare; To attach

Definitions

  1. To steal, to grab; To stare; To attach

Ancestry of “glom”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Scottish Englishglaum—
2EnglishclamA bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those...
3Middle Englishclampincers, vice, clamp; viscous, sticky; slimy
4Old Englishclāmclay, mud; paste, mortar, mud, clay, poultice
5Proto-West Germanic*klaim—
6Proto-Germanicklaimazclay, mortar
7Proto-Indo-Europeangleh₁y-to smear, putty; to stick, glue
8Proto-Indo-Europeangleh₁-ball, lump
9Proto-Indo-Europeangewl-vessel; ball; vessel, bowl, ball; ball, bowl,...
10Proto-Indo-Europeangēw-to bend, arch

Words derived from “glom”

  • glommer
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gēw- →