An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Kluft

by Friedrich Kluge

Kluft, f., ‘chasm,’ from MidHG. kluft, f., ‘cleft, chasm, cave, vault, tongs,’ OHG. chluft, f., ‘tongs, shears,’ prop. ‘splitting’ (as a verbal abstract of the OTeut. kliuban, ‘to split,’ discussed under klieben). The tongs, as an instrument with a slit, is called dial. Kluft; comp. Kluppe. The MidHG. meaning ‘vault’ (crypta) seems to be due to a confusion of Kluft with the foreign word crypta (see Gruft). Goth. *klufti-, f.; AS. *clyft, E. cleft, clift, Du. kluft, f., ‘cleft, notch, chasm.’