An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Klippe

by Friedrich Kluge

Klippe, f., ‘cliff,’ from the equiv. MidHG. (Lower Rhen.) klippe, f., borrowed from MidDu. klippe; comp. Du. klip; allied to a Teut. root klib, as is shown by OIc. kleif, n., ‘cliffs’; comp. also AS. clif, n., E. cliff, OIc. klif, n., OSax. klif, OHG. klëb, n., all pointing to a Goth. *klif, klibis, n., ‘rock, hill’ They have been connected with Ic. klífa, vb., ‘to climb’ (see under kleiben), but on account of the prim. meaning ‘to cleave (to),’ this is scarcely satisfactory.