Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “hearsecloth” come from?

hearsecloth (English) comes from English cloth, from Middle English cloþ, from Old English clāþ, from Proto-Germanic klaiþą, from Proto-Indo-European gleyt-, from Proto-Indo-European gley-, from Proto-Indo-European gel- — to be cold, to freeze.

hearsecloth (English): A cloth for covering a coffin when on a bier; a...

Definitions

  1. A cloth for covering a coffin when on a bier; a...

Ancestry of “hearsecloth”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishclothA woven fabric such as used in dressing,...
2Middle EnglishcloþAlternative form of cloth; cloth, garment
3Old Englishclāþcloth, clothes, covering, sail
4Proto-Germanicklaiþącloth
5Proto-Indo-Europeangleyt-to cling to, cleave, stick
6Proto-Indo-Europeangley-to glue, paste, stick together; to glue, stick...
7Proto-Indo-Europeangel-to be cold, to freeze
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gel- →