Where does “ключевой” come from?
ключевой (Russian) comes from Russian ключ, from Proto-Slavic kľučь, from Proto-Balto-Slavic kljaukjas, from Proto-Indo-European klewk-yo-s, from Proto-Indo-European kle(h₂)uk-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kleh₂w-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kel- — to bend, crook; bent, crooked; leg, heel, knee,...
ключевой (Russian): key, crucial; spring
Ancestry of “ключевой”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Russian | ключ | key; wrench, spanner, screw wrench; clue, key |
| 2 | Proto-Slavic | kľučь | key |
| 3 | Proto-Balto-Slavic | kljaukjas | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | klewk-yo-s | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | kle(h₂)uk- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kleh₂w- | a hook, crook, peg |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kel- | to bend, crook; bent, crooked; leg, heel, knee,... |