An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/klettern

by Friedrich Kluge

klettern, verb, ‘to climb,’ early ModHG only, probably allied to Kette, and derived like the latter from a root meaning ‘to cleave (to)’; compare kleben and klimmen. Akin to Dutch klauteren, Low German klâtern, klattern, South Franconian klôteren, ‘to mount, climb’ (with an abnormal vowel and dental); root klêt?.