Where does “clou” come from?
clou (Old French) comes from Latin clāvus, from Proto-Italic klāwos, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kleh₂w-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kel- — to bend, crook; bent, crooked; leg, heel, knee,...
Ancestry of “clou”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | clāvus | a nail (metal spike) |
| 2 | Proto-Italic | klāwos | capable of closing something |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kleh₂w- | a hook, crook, peg |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kel- | to bend, crook; bent, crooked; leg, heel, knee,... |