An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/klimmen

by Friedrich Kluge

klimmen, verb, ‘to climb,’ from a Middle High German klimmen, klimben, Old High German climbun, strong verb, ‘to climb, mount’; corresponding to Anglo-Saxon climban, English to climb. The nasal was originally a part of the present stem; it did not belong to the root, as is proved by Old Icelandic klífa, verb, ‘to climb.’ As to the identity of klimban with Old Teutonic klîban, ‘to cleave (to), hold firm,’ compare kleiben; hence klimmen is properly ‘to adhere.’