Where does “clean” come from?

clean (German) comes from English clean, from Middle English clene, from Old English clǣne, from Proto-Germanic klainiz, from Proto-Indo-European g(e)lēi-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.

clean (German): clean, drugfree

Definitions

  1. clean, drugfree

Ancestry of “clean”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishclean"Free of dirt or impurities or protruberances.";...
2Middle Englishcleneclean
3Old Englishclǣnepure, clear; clean, pure
4Proto-Germanicklainizshining, fine, splendid; tender, precious
5Proto-Indo-Europeang(e)lēi-gleaming
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European g(e)lēi- →Every word from Proto-Germanic klainiz →