Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/klanhs

This Proto-Germanic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Germanic

Etymology

Unknown. Kroonen links *kling(w)aną (“to shrink”). Compare also Proto-Celtic *glendos (“valley, glen”) and Proto-Germanic *klintaz (“hill, cliff”), of possible substrate origin.

In view of *klintaz, *klibą (“cliff”) and *kluftiz (“cleft”), sound symbolism may be involved.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈklɑ̃.xs/

Noun

*klanhs m

1. (West Germanic) cleft; sluice; abyss

Inflection

consonant stemDeclension of *klanhs (consonant stem)
	singular	plural
nominative	*klanhs	*klanhiz
vocative	*klanh	*klanhiz
accusative	*klanhų	*klanhunz
genitive	*klanhiz	*klanhǫ̂
dative	*klanhi	*klanhumaz
instrumental	*klanhē	*klanhumiz

Alternative reconstructions

• *klanhaz

Related terms

• *klingô

Descendants

• Old English: *clōh
  • Middle English: clogh, clough, clow, clew
    • English: clough
      • Northumbrian cleugh
    • Scots: cleuch
• Old High German: *klāh (in placenames)