clack (v.) — clavier (n.)
"make a quick, sharp noise," mid-13c., not in Old English, from Old Norse klaka "to chatter," of echoic origin. Compare Dutch klakken "to clack, crack," Old High German kleken, French claquer "to clap, crack (see claque). Related: Clacked; clacking.ETD clack (v.).2
"clothed," c. 1300, cledde, from cledde, alternative past tense and past participle of clothe. Old English had geclæþd, past participle of clæþan.ETD clad (adj.).2
in Claddagh ring (Irish fáinne Chladach), from the village of Claddagh, County Gallway. The village name is literally "stony beach."ETD claddagh.2
"group of organisms evolved from a common ancestor," 1957, from Greek klados "young branch, offshoot of a plant, shoot broken off," from PIE *kele-, possibly from root *kel- "to strike, cut" (see holt).ETD clade (n.).2
"theory or practice of cladistic taxonomy," 1966, from clade + -ism. Related: Cladist.ETD cladism (n.).2
1960, from clade + -istic. Related: Cladistics "systematic classification of life forms" (1965; see -ics).ETD cladistic (adj.).2
"batter pudding made with black cherries," 1948, from French, from dialectal verb clafir "to fill." The dish is a specialty of the Limousin region.ETD clafoutis (n.).2
Old English clæg "stiff, sticky earth; clay," from Proto-Germanic *klaijaz (source also of Old High German kliwa "bran," German Kleie, Old Frisian klai, Old Saxon klei, Middle Dutch clei, Danish klæg "clay;" also Old English clæman, Old Norse kleima, Old High German kleiman "to cover with clay").ETD clay (n.).2
Some sources see these as being from a common PIE root meaning "slime; glue" also forming words for "clay" and verbs for "stick together." Compared words include Latin gluten "glue, beeswax;" Greek gloios "sticky matter;" Lithuanian glitus "sticky," glitas "mucus;" Old Church Slavonic glina "clay," glenu "slime, mucus;" Old Irish glenim "I cleave, adhere;" Old English cliða "plaster." But Beekes writes that "Not all comparisons are convincing," and notes that most words cited are from Balto-Slavic or Germanic, "which suggests European substrate origin."ETD clay (n.).3
In Scripture, the stuff from which the body of the first man was formed; hence "human body" (especially when dead). As an adjective, "formed of clay," 1520s. Clay-pigeon "saucer of baked clay used as a flying target in trap-shooting," in place of live birds, is from 1881. Feet of clay "fundamental weakness" is from Daniel ii.33.ETD clay (n.).4
early 14c., "a demand of a right; right of claiming," from Old French claime "claim, complaint," from clamer (see claim (v.)). Meaning "thing claimed or demanded" is from 1792; specifically "piece of land allotted and taken" (chiefly U.S. and Australia, in reference to mining); claim-jumper is attested from 1839. Insurance sense "application for guaranteed compensation" is from 1878.ETD claim (n.).2
c. 1300, "to call, call out; to ask or demand by virtue of right or authority," from accented stem of Old French clamer "to call, name, describe; claim; complain; declare," from Latin clamare "to cry out, shout, proclaim," from PIE root *kele- (2) "to shout." Related: Claimed; claiming.ETD claim (v.).2
Meaning "to maintain as true, assert a belief or opinion" is from 1864 ("A common use, regarded by many as inelegant" - Century Dictionary, 1895); claim properly should not stray too far from its true meaning of "to demand recognition of a right." Specific sense "to make a claim" (on an insurance company) is from 1897.ETD claim (v.).3
"one who demands anything as a right," 1747, from claim (v.), on model of appellant, defendant, etc., or from French noun use of present participle of clamer.ETD claimant (n.).2
fem. proper name, from French claire, fem. of clair literally "light, bright," from Latin clarus "clear, bright, distinct" (see clear (adj.); also compare Clara).ETD Claire.2
"supposed power of hearing, in a trance, sounds inaudible to those in a waking state," 1858, formed on model of clairvoyance (with French clair; see clear (adj.)) + audience "hearing." Related: Clairaudient (1852).ETD clairaudience (n.).2
"soft white or pale blue-gray color," 1877, French, literally "moonlight," also used as "color of moonlight." See clear (adj.) + luna. Debussy's famous passage of that name (1890) was inspired by Verlaine's poem (1869).ETD clair-de-lune (n.).2
1834 in the psychic sense, "person supposed to possess powers of clairvoyance;" see clairvoyant (adj.). Earlier it was used in the sense "clear-sighted person" (1794). Fem. form is Clairvoyante.ETD clairvoyant (n.).2
"paranormal gift of seeing things out of sight," 1837, from special use of French clairvoyance (16c., from Old French clerveans, 13c.) "quickness of understanding, sagacity, penetration," from clairvoyant "clear-sighted, discerning, judicious" (13c.), from clair (see clear (adj.)) + voyant "seeing," present participle of voir, from Latin videre "to see" (from PIE root *weid- "to see"). A secondary sense in French is the main sense in English.ETD clairvoyance (n.).2
"having psychic gifts, characterized by powers of clairvoyance," 1837, earlier "having insight" (1670s), from special use of French clairvoyant "clear-sighted, discerning, judicious" (13c.), from clair (see clear (adj.)) + voyant "seeing," present participle of voir, from Latin videre "to see" (from PIE root *weid- "to see"). Related: Clairvoyantly.ETD clairvoyant (adj.).2
bivalve mollusk, c. 1500 (in clam-shell), originally Scottish, apparently a particular use of Middle English clam "pincers, vice, clamp" (late 14c.), from Old English clamm "bond, fetter, grip, grasp," from Proto-Germanic *klam- "to press or squeeze together" (source also of Old High German klamma "cramp, fetter, constriction," German Klamm "a constriction"), possibly from a PIE *glem- or *glom- "contain, embrace" (see glebe).ETD clam (n.).2
If this is right then the original reference is to the shell. Clam-chowder attested from 1822. To be happy as a clam is from 1833, but the earliest uses do not elaborate on the notion behind it, unless it be self-containment.ETD clam (n.).3
"to dig for clams," 1630s, American English, from clam (n.). Clam up "be quiet" is 1916, American English, but clam was used in this sense as an interjection mid-14c.ETD clam (v.).2
also clam-bake, 1835, "picnic feast consisting chiefly of a mass of clams baked on heated stones," American English, from clam (n.) + bake (n.). By 1937 in jazz slang transferred to "an enjoyable time generally," especially "jam session."ETD clambake (n.).2
"to climb with difficulty using hands and feet," late 14c., possibly a frequentative of Middle English climben "to climb" (past tense clamb), or akin to Old Norse klembra "to hook (oneself) on." With Germanic verbal suffix indicating repeated or diminutive action (see -er (4)). Related: Clambered; clambering.ETD clamber (v.).2
1832, "one who digs clams from rivers and seashores," from clam (n.) + digger. Clam-diggers as a style of women's casual pants hemmed at mid-calf (supposedly resembling styles worn by those digging clams in mud) is by 1995.ETD clam-digger (n.).2
also clamjamfery, etc., contemptuous word for "a collection of persons, mob," 1816 (as clanjamfrie), of unknown origin; first in Scott, so perhaps there's a suggestion of clan in it, or perhaps clam, clem "mean, low, worthless." Second element seems to be related to Scottish jamph, jampher "to mock, scoff; be idle."ETD clamjamphry (n.).2
"soft and sticky," late 14c., probably an extended form of Middle English clam "viscous, sticky, muddy" (mid-14c.), from Old English clæm "mud, sticky clay," from Proto-Germanic *klaimaz "clay" (source also of Flemish klammig, Low German klamig "sticky, damp," Old English clæman "to smear, plaster;" and clay). With -y (2). Related: Clammily; clamminess.ETD clammy (adj.).2
"utter loudly, shout," also figurative, "make importunate demands or complaints," late 14c., from clamor (n.). Related: Clamored; clamoring.ETD clamor (v.).2
late 14c., "a great outcry," also figurative, "loud or urgent demand," from Old French clamor "call, cry, appeal, outcry" (12c., Modern French clameur), from Latin clamor "a shout, a loud call" (either friendly or hostile), from clamare "to cry out" (from PIE root *kele- (2) "to shout").ETD clamor (n.).2
noisy, vociferous," c. 1400, from Medieval Latin clamorosus, from Latin clamor "a shout" (see clamor (n.)). Related: Clamorously; clamorousness.ETD clamorous (adj.).2
chiefly British English spelling of clamor (q.v.); for spelling, see -or. Related: Clamoured; clamouring; clamourous.ETD clamour.2
"to fasten with a clamp," 1670s, from clamp (n.). Related: Clamped; clamping.ETD clamp (v.).2
device for fastening or holding, c. 1300, probably from Middle Dutch clampe (Dutch klamp), from Proto-Germanic *klam-b- "clamp, cleat;" cognate with Middle Low German klampe "clasp, hook," Old High German klampfer "clip, clamp;" also probably related to Middle Dutch klamme "a clamp, hook, grapple," Danish klamme "a clamp, cramp," Old English clamm "a tie, fetter," perhaps from the same root as Latin glomus "ball-shaped mass" (see glebe).ETD clamp (n.).2
It took the place of earlier clam "clamp, brace," from Old English clamm "bond, fetter, grip, grasp" (see clam (n.)).ETD clamp (n.).3
also clampdown, 1940 in the figurative sense "a firm, oppressive or harsh suppression or preventive action," from verbal phrase clamp down "use pressure to keep down" (1924). The verbal phrase in the figurative sense is recorded from 1941. See clamp (v.) + down (adv.).ETD clamp-down (n.).2
c. 1500, "the shell of a clam;" see clam (n.) + shell (n.). As "hinged iron box or bucket used in dredging" from 1877.ETD clam-shell (n.).2
"a family, a tribe," especially, among the Highlanders of Scotland, a form of social organization consisting of a tribe holding land in common under leadership of a chieftain, early 15c., from Gaelic clann "family, stock, offspring," akin to Old Irish cland "offspring, tribe," both from Latin planta "offshoot" (see plant (n.)).ETD clan (n.).2
The Goidelic branch of Celtic (including Gaelic) had no initial p-, so it substituted k- or c- for Latin p-. The same Latin word in (non-Goidelic) Middle Welsh became plant "children."ETD clan (n.).3
"secret, private, hidden, furtive," 1560s, from Latin clandestinus "secret, hidden," from clam "secretly," from adverbial derivative of base of celare "to hide" (from PIE root *kel- (1) "to cover, conceal, save"), perhaps on model of intestinus "internal." Related: Clandestinely. As a noun form, there is awkward clandestinity (clandestineness apparently being a dictionary word).ETD clandestine (adj.).2
"a loud, sharp, resonant, metallic sound," 1590s, from clang (v.).ETD clang (n.).2
"make a loud, sharp, resonant, metallic sounds," 1570s (intransitive), echoic (originally of trumpets and birds), akin to or from Latin clangere "resound, ring," and Greek klange "sharp sound," from PIE *klang-, nasalized form of root *kleg- "to cry, sound." Transitive sense is by 1850. Related: Clanged; clanging.ETD clang (v.).2
"a sharp, metallic, ringing sound," 1590s, from Latin clangor "sound of trumpets (Virgil), birds (Ovid), etc.," from clangere "to clang," echoic (compare clang).ETD clangor (n.).2
"making clangor," 1712, from Medieval Latin clangorosus, from Latin clangor; or else from clangor + -ous. Related: Clangorously; clangorousness.ETD clangorous (adj.).2
"a sharp, hard, metallic sound," 1650s, from clank (v.). Reduplicated form clankety-clank attested from 1895.ETD clank (n.).2
1610s, "cause to make a sharp, hard, metallic sound," perhaps echoic, perhaps suggested by clang (v.) and clink (v.), perhaps from a Low German source (compare Middle Dutch clank, Dutch klank, Old High German klanc, Middle Low German klank, German Klang). Intransitive sense "give out a clank" is from 1650s.ETD clank (v.).2
1748, "pertaining to a clan; disposed to adhere closely to one another, imbued with prejudices, narrow or restricted in social interests and feeling," from clan + -ish. Related: Clannishly; clannishness.ETD clannish (adj.).2
1810, "member of a clan," from genitive of clan + man (n.).ETD clansman (n.).2
c. 1300, "to strike with a quick, sharp motion, to slap," from Old English clæppan "to throb, beat," or from or influenced by its Old Norse cognate, klappa, a common Germanic echoic verb (compare Old Frisian klapa "to beat," Old High German klaphon, German klappen, Old Saxon klapunga).ETD clap (v.).2
Meaning "to make a sharp noise" is late 14c. Of hands, "to beat together to get attention or express joy," from late 14c. Without specific mention of hands, "to applaud, to manifest approbation by striking the hands together," 1610s. To clap (someone) on the back is from 1520s and retains the older sense. Related: Clapped; clapping.ETD clap (v.).3
"gonorrhea," 1580s, of unknown origin, perhaps from Middle English clapper "rabbit-hole," from Old French clapoire (Modern French clapier), originally "rabbit burrow" (a word of uncertain origin), given a slang extension to "brothel" and also the name of a disease of some sort. In English originally also a verb, "to infect with clap." Related: Clap-doctor.ETD clap (n.2).2
"a sudden, sharp, loud noise," c. 1200, from clap (v.). Of thunder, late 14c. Meaning "sudden blow" is from c. 1400; meaning "noise made by slapping the palms of the hands together" is from 1590s.ETD clap (n.1).2
1520s, partial translation of Middle Dutch klapholt (borrowed into English late 14c. as clapholt), from klappen "to fit" + Low German holt "wood, board" (see holt). Compare German Klappholz.ETD clapboard (n.).2
Originally small boards of split oak imported from northern Germany and cut by coopers to make barrel staves; the meaning "long, thin board, usually about 6 or 8 inches wide, used for roofing or to cover the exterior of wooden buildings" is from 1630s, American English.ETD clapboard (n.).3
late 13c., "something which strikes with a loud, sharp noise," agent noun from clap (v.). Meaning "tongue of a bell" is from late 14c. Old English had clipur. Meaning "hinged board snapped in front of a camera at the start of filming to synchronize picture and sound" is from 1940.ETD clapper (n.).2
"to fight at arm's length with the hands and nails," 1590s, from clap (v.) + claw (v.). Related: Clapperclawed; clapperclawing.ETD clapperclaw (v.).2
1730, "a trick to 'catch' applause," a stage term; from clap (v.) + trap (n.). Extended sense of "cheap, showy language" is from 1819; hence "nonsense, rubbish."ETD claptrap (n.).2
"band of subservient followers," 1860, from French claque "band of claqueurs" (a set of men distributed through an audience and hired to applaud the performance or the actors), agent noun from claquer "to clap" (16c.), echoic (compare clap (v.)). Modern sense of "band of political followers" is transferred from that of "organized applause at theater." Claqueur "audience member who gives pre-arranged responses in a theater performance" is in English from 1837.ETD claque (n.).2
fem. personal name, from Latin Clara, fem. of clarus "bright, shining, clear" (see clear (adj.) and compare Claire). Derivatives include Clarisse, Clarice, Clarabel, Claribel. The native form Clare was common in medieval England, perhaps owing to the popularity of St. Clare of Assisi.ETD Clara.2
surname, from Medieval Latin Clarencia, name of dukedom created 1362 for Lionel, third son of Edward III, so called from the town of Clare, Suffolk, whose heiress Lionel married. Used as a masc. proper name from late 19c. As a type of four-wheeled closed carriage, named for the Duke of Clarence, later William IV.ETD Clarence.2
a condensed, thickened Roman typeface, 1845, evidently named for the Clarendon press at Oxford University, which was set up 1713 in the Clarendon Building, named for university Chancellor Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon.ETD clarendon (n.).2
mid-15c., "light-colored wine," from Old French (vin) claret "clear (wine), light-colored red wine" (also "sweetened wine," a sense in English from late 14c.), from Latin clarus "clear" (see clear (adj.)). Narrowed English meaning "red wine of Bordeaux" (excluding burgundy) first attested 1700. Used in pugilistic slang for "blood" from c. 1600.ETD claret (n.).2
1610s, "act of clearing or refining" (especially of liquid substances), from French clarification, from Late Latin clarificationem (nominative clarificatio), noun of action from past participle stem of clarificare "to make clear" (see clarify). The meaning "statement revising or expanding an earlier statement but stopping short of a correction" is attested by 1969, originally in newspapers.ETD clarification (n.).2
early 14c., "make illustrious, glorify, make known" (a sense now obsolete), from Old French clarifiier "clarify, make clear, explain" (12c.), from Late Latin clarificare "to glorify," literally "to make clear," from Latin clarificus "brilliant," from clarus "clear, distinct" (see clear (adj.)) + combining form of facere "to make, to do" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put").ETD clarify (v.).2
Meaning "make clear, purify" (especially of liquors) is from early 15c. in English. Figurative sense of "to free from obscurity, render intelligible" is from 1823. Intransitive sense of "grow or become clear" is from 1590s. Related: Clarified; clarifying.ETD clarify (v.).3
"single-reeded tubular woodwind instrument with a bell mouth," 1768, from French clarinette (18c.), diminutive of clarine "little bell" (16c.), noun use of fem. of adjective clarin (which also was used as a noun, "trumpet, clarion"), from clair, cler, from Latin clarus (see clear (adj.)). Alternative form clarionet is attested from 1784.ETD clarinet (n.).2
The instrument, a modification of the medieval shawm, is said to have been invented c. 1700 by J.C. Denner of Nuremberg, Germany, and was a recognized orchestral instrument from c. 1775. The ease of playing it increased greatly with a design improvement from 1843 based on Boehm's flute.ETD clarinet (n.).3
German Clarinet, Swedish klarinett, Italian clarinetto, etc. all are from French. Related: Clarinettist.ETD clarinet (n.).4
"small, high-pitched trumpet," early 14c., from Old French clarion "(high-pitched) trumpet, bugle" and directly from Medieval Latin clarionem (nominative clario) "a trumpet," from Latin clarus "clear" (see clear (adj.)). Clarion call in the figurative sense "call to battle" is attested from 1838 (clarion's call is from 1807).ETD clarion (n.).2
fem. proper name, often a diminutive of Clara and its relatives. Also, "a nun of the order of St. Clare" (1790s); the Franciscan order also known as the Poor Clares (c. 1600).ETD Clarisse.2
c. 1300, clarte, clerte "brightness, radiance; glory, splendor," from Old French clerte, clartet (Modern French clarté) "clarity, brightness," from Latin claritas "brightness, splendor," also, of sounds, "clearness;" figuratively "celebrity, renown, fame," from clarare "make clear," from clarus "clear" (see clear (adj.)).ETD clarity (n.).2
Modern form is first attested early 15c., perhaps a reborrowing directly from Latin. Original senses are obsolete; meaning "clearness" (of color, judgment, style, etc.) is from mid-15c.ETD clarity (n.).3
also Clarke, surname, from common Middle English alternative spelling of clerk (n.). In many early cases it is used of men who had taken minor orders.ETD Clark.2
c. 1500, "to make a loud, sharp sound," of imitative origin, or a blend of clap and crash. Compare Dutch kletsen "splash, clash," German klatschen, Danish klaske "clash, knock about." Figurative sense, in reference to non-physical strife or battle, is first attested 1620s. Of things, "to come into collision," from 1650s; of colors, "to go badly together," by 1867. Related: Clashed; clashing.ETD clash (v.).2
1510s, "sharp, loud noise of collision," from clash (v.). Especially of the noise of conflicting metal weapons. Meaning "hostile encounter" is from 1640s; meaning "conflict of opinions, etc." is from 1781.ETD clash (n.).2
late 14c., "to furnish with buckles," from clasp (n.). From c. 1400 as "to shut or fasten together with a clasp; to catch and hold by twining or embracing." Related: Clasped; clasping.ETD clasp (v.).2
c. 1300, claspe, "metal catch or hook used to hold things together," perhaps a metathesis of clapse, and thus from or related to Old English clyppan "clasp" (see clip (v.2)). As "a clinging or grasping," c. 1600.ETD clasp (n.).2
"pair of hooks provided with a ring which can hold them together," 1841, from clasp (n.) + hook (n.).ETD clasp-hook (n.).2
"knife with one or more blades which fold into the handle," 1743, from clasp (n.) + knife (n.). The thing itself was known to the Etruscans and Romans; it became popular again 17c.ETD clasp-knife (n.).2
c. 1600, "group of students," in U.S. especially "number of pupils in a school or college of the same grade," from French classe (14c.), from Latin classis "a class, a division; army, fleet," especially "any one of the six orders into which Servius Tullius divided the Roman people for the purpose of taxation;" traditionally originally "the people of Rome under arms" (a sense attested in English from 1650s), and thus akin to calare "to call (to arms)," from PIE root *kele- (2) "to shout." In early use in English also in Latin form classis.ETD class (n.).2
Meaning "an order or rank of persons, a number of persons having certain characteristics in common" is from 1660s. School and university sense of "course, lecture" (1650s) is from the notion of a form or lecture reserved to scholars who had attained a certain level. Natural history sense "group of related plants or animals" is from 1753. Meaning "high quality" is from 1874. Meaning "a division of society according to status" (with upper, lower, etc.) is from 1763. Class-consciousness (1903) is from German Klassenbewusst.ETD class (n.).3
1705, "to divide into classes, place in ranks or divisions," from class (n.) or French classer. Sense of "to place into a class" is from 1776. Related: Classed; classing.ETD class (v.).2
"pertaining to or characteristic of a (high) class," 1891, from class (n.) + -y (2). Related: Classily; classiness.ETD classy (adj.).2
"a Greek or Roman writer or work," 1711, from classic (adj.). So, by mid-18c., any work or author in any context held to have a similar quality or relationship; an artist or literary production of the first rank. In classical Latin the noun use of classicus meant "a marine" (miles classicus) from the "military division" sense of classis.ETD classic (n.).2
"classical style in art or literature," 1830, from classic + -ism. Related: Classicist (1828). In the 19c., usually contrasted with romanticism and considered characteristic of the 18c.ETD classicism (n.).2
1610s, "of or belonging to the highest class; approved as a model," from French classique (17c.), from Latin classicus "relating to the (highest) classes of the Roman people," hence, "superior," from classis (see class (n.)). Originally in English, "of the first class;" meaning "belonging to or characteristic of standard authors of Greek and Roman antiquity" is attested from 1620s.ETD classic (adj.).2
1590s, "of the highest rank" (originally in literature), from classic + -al (1). Classical music (1836) was defined originally against romantic music.ETD classical (adj.).2
But already by 1880s it was acknowledged the term had a double sense: Music that had withstood the test of time, as well as music of a style contrasted to "romantic." Later (early 20c.) it was contrasted to jazz (in this sense more often with reference to the orchestras than to the music itself). Still later it stood in contrast to popular music generally (mid-20c.). Classical history is the history of ancient Greece and Rome; ancient history is the history of mankind from the earliest reliable records to the fall of Rome (476 C.E.). Related: Classically.ETD classical (adj.).3
"Greek and Roman writers and works," 1711, from classic (adj.).ETD classics (n.).2
1772, "action of classifying, act of forming a class or dividing into classes," noun of action from Latin stem of classify, or from French classification. Meaning "result of classifying" is from 1789.ETD classification (n.).2
1828, "arranged in classes," past-participle adjective from classify. Meaning "secret" (in reference to government information) is from 1941, American English. Classifieds (n.) "newspaper advertisements arranged by classes," 1913, is short for classified advertisementsETD classified (adj.).2
"arrange in a class or classes, arrange according to common characteristics," 1782, from French classifier, from classe (see class (n.)) + -fier (see -fy). Related: Classified; classifying.ETD classify (v.).2
"capable of being classified," 1820, from classify + -able.ETD classifiable (adj.).2
"relating to or of the nature of a classification," 1825, from Latin stem of classify + -ory.ETD classificatory (adj.).2
"distinction of class," 1842, from class (n.) + -ism.ETD classism (n.).2
1874 in the social sense, "having or belonging to no class," from class (n.) in the "social order" sense + -less. As "lacking the sophistication of high class," by 1979. Related: Classlessly; classlessness.ETD classless (adj.).2
"one of the same class at school or college," 1713, from class (n.) + mate (n.).ETD classmate (n.).2
also class-room, "room in which school lessons are taught," 1811, from class (n.) + room (n.).ETD classroom (n.).2
"consisting of broken pieces, breaking up into fragments," 1868 in reference to anatomical models, 1870 in geology, from Latinized form of Greek klastos "broken in pieces," from klan, klaein "to break," which is perhaps from PIE *kla-, variant of root *kel- "to strike" (see holt), but more likely of uncertain origin [Beekes].ETD clastic (adj.).2
"make a rattling sound," from Old English *clatrian (implied by late Old English verbal noun clatrung "clattering, noise"), of imitative origin. Compare Middle Dutch klateren, East Frisian klatern, Low German klattern "to clatter, rattle;" perhaps all are from PIE root *gal- "to call, shout." With Germanic verbal suffix indicating repeated or diminutive action (see -er (4)). The noun is attested from mid-14c., from the verb. Related: Clattered; clattering.ETD clatter (v.).2
masc. proper name, from French form of Claudius.ETD Claude.2
fem. proper name, from Latin Claudius (m.).ETD Claudia.2
"a halting or limping, a limp," 1550s, from French claudication (13c.) or directly from Latin claudicationem (nominative claudicatio) "a limping," noun of action from past-participle stem of claudicare "to limp, be lame," from claudus "limping, halting, lame," which is of unknown origin. Related: Claudicant (adj.); claudicate.ETD claudication (n.).2
masc. proper name, from the name of two Roman gentes, perhaps related to claudus "lame," which is of unknown origin. The Claudian emperors (Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero) reigned from 14 to 68 C.E.ETD Claudius.2
c. 1200, "a sentence, a brief passage of a written composition," from Old French clause "stipulation" (in a legal document), 12c., from Medieval Latin clausa "conclusion," used in the sense of classical Latin clausula "the end, a closing, termination," also "end of a sentence or a legal argument," from clausa, fem. noun from past participle of claudere "to close, to shut, to conclude" (see close (v.)).ETD clause (n.).2
Grammatical sense "one of the lesser sentences which united form a complex or compound sentence" is from c. 1300. Legal meaning "distinct condition, stipulation, or proviso" is recorded from late 14c. in English. The sense of "ending" mostly faded from the word between Latin and French, but it is occasionally found in Middle English.ETD clause (n.).3
"pertaining to a clause or clauses," 1870, from clause + -al (1).ETD clausal (adj.).2
mid-15c., "of or pertaining to a cloister, monastic," from Medieval Latin claustralis "pertaining to a claustrum," ("cloister"), from past participle of Latin claudere "to close" (see close (v.), and compare cloister). From 1862 as "resembling a cloister."ETD claustral (adj.).2
"act of shutting up in a cloister," 1863, as if from a noun of action formed in Latin from Latin claustrare, from claustrum (see cloister).ETD claustration (n.).2
"morbid desire to be shut up in a confined space," 1884, from claustro-, abstracted from claustrophobia, + -philia.ETD claustrophilia (n.).2
"affected by claustrophobia," 1889, from claustrophobia + -ic. As a noun, "person who has claustrophobia," it is recorded from 1953.ETD claustrophobic (adj.).2
"morbid fear of being shut up in a confined space," coined 1879 (in article by Italian-born, French-naturalized Swiss-English physician Dr. Benjamin Ball), with -phobia "fear" + Latin claustrum "a bolt, a means of closing; a place shut in, confined place, frontier fortress" (in Medieval Latin "cloister"), from past participle of claudere "to close" (see close (v.)).ETD claustrophobia (n.).2
"pair of hardwood sticks used in making music," 1928, from American Spanish claves (plural), from Spanish clave "keystone," from Latin clavis "key" (from PIE root *klau- "hook").ETD claves (n.).2
keyboard musical instrument with strings, invented in the Middle Ages and in general use in Germany, mid-15c., from Medieval Latin clavicordium (15c.), from Latin clavis "a key" (from PIE root *klau- "hook") + chorda "a string" (see cord (n.) and compare clavier). It was replaced 18c. by the pianoforte.ETD clavichord (n.).2
"collarbone," 1610s, from French clavicule "collarbone" (16c.), also "small key," from Medieval Latin clavicula "collarbone" (used c. 980 in a translation of Avicenna), special use of classical Latin clavicula, literally "small key, bolt," diminutive of clavis "key" (from PIE root *klau- "hook"); in the anatomical sense a loan-translation of Greek kleis "key, collarbone," which is from the same PIE source. So called supposedly from its function as the "fastener" of the shoulder. Related: Clavicular.ETD clavicle (n.).2
1708, "keyboard of a pianoforte, organ, etc.," from French clavier, originally "a key-bearer," from Latin clavis "key" (from PIE root *klau- "hook"). The French word also is the source of German Klavier, Dutch klavier, Danish klaver, etc. The German word was used generally of keyboard instruments with strings, and is the source of the English use of the word for "a clavichord, a harpsichord, a pianoforte, an organ," attested from 1845.ETD clavier (n.).2