Where does “klutz” come from?

klutz (English) comes from Yiddish קלאָץ, from Middle High German kloz, from Old High German kloz, from Proto-West Germanic klott, from Proto-Indo-European gel- — to be cold, to freeze.

klutz (English): A clumsy or stupid person

Definitions

  1. A clumsy or stupid person

Ancestry of “klutz”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Yiddishקלאָץwooden beam
2Middle High Germanklozstump; ball
3Old High Germanklozstump; ball
4Proto-West Germanicklottclod, lump, ball
5Proto-Indo-Europeangel-to be cold, to freeze

Words derived from “klutz”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gel- →Every word from Proto-West Germanic klott →Every word from Old High German kloz →
klutz — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer