Klette

German

Etymology

From Middle High German klette, from Old High German kletta f, kletto m, from Proto-Germanic *klīþô, from Proto-Indo-European *gleyt- (to cling to, cleave, stick), from *gley- (to stick, smear). Cognate with Old Saxon kledda f, kleddo m and Middle Low German klette. Related to klettern (to climb) and Kleid (dress), also Middle Dutch clisse, Dutch klis, Old English cliþe, clāte and English clote (burdock) (DWDS).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈklɛtə/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛtə

Noun

Klette f (genitive Klette, plural Kletten)

  1. burdock
  2. a bur (a seed pod with sharp features that stick in fur or clothing)
  3. (figuratively) a clingy person

Declension

Derived terms

  • kletten

Further reading

  • Klette” in Duden online
  • Klette” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache