Etymology Explorer › Old French

Where does “clenche” come from?

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

Ancestry of “clenche”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frankishklinkulatch; latch, door handle
2Proto-Germanicklinganąto sound; to adhere to, cling to
3Proto-Indo-Europeanglengʰ-sound
4Proto-Indo-Europeangal-to call, cry; to sound; to roop, scream, shout

Words derived from “clenche”

  • clanche
  • clenche
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gal- →