Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “clingan” come from?

clingan (Old English) comes from Proto-Germanic klinganą, from Proto-Indo-European glengʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European gal- — to call, cry; to sound; to roop, scream, shout.

clingan (Old English): to whither, pine, shrink up, shrink together from...

Definitions

  1. to whither, pine, shrink up, shrink together from...

Ancestry of “clingan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanicklinganąto sound; to adhere to, cling to
2Proto-Indo-Europeanglengʰ-sound
3Proto-Indo-Europeangal-to call, cry; to sound; to roop, scream, shout

Words derived from “clingan”

  • cling
  • clingy
  • clingstone
  • clingfilm
  • clinginess
  • clingeth
  • clinger
  • clingest
  • clingfish
  • clingwrap
  • uncling
  • clingfilmed
  • clingily
  • anticling
  • noncling
  • unclingy
  • clingsome
  • clingen
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gal- →