An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Kloben

by Friedrich Kluge

Kloben, masculine, ‘log of wood, block, pulley,’ from Middle High German klobe, masculine, ‘log of wood with a slit to act as a vice, fetter, stick with a slit for catching birds, bolt, slit,’ &c.; Old High German chlobo, masculine, ‘stick for catching birds’; allied to klieben, Middle High German klieben, verb, ‘to split, cleave’ (compare Bogen, allied to biegen). Old Low German kloðo, masculine, ‘fetter’; Old Icelandic klofe, masculine, ‘crevice in a rock, door joint’; Dutch kloof, feminine, ‘slit, rift, cleft.’ Compare Knoblauch.