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An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/glatt

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An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, G (1891)
by Friedrich Kluge, translated by John Francis Davis
glatt
Friedrich Kluge2511335An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, G — glatt1891John Francis Davis

glatt, adj., ‘smooth, polished, slippery, bald,’ from MidHG. and OHG. glat, ‘smooth, shining’; corresponding to OSax. gladmôd, ‘gladsome,’ Du. glad, ‘smooth,’ AS. glǣ̆d, ‘shining, joyous,’ E. glad, OIc. glaðr, ‘joyous, shining.’ Goth. *glada- for pre-Teut. ghladho- is primit. allied to OSlov. gladŭkŭ, ‘smooth,’ Lat. glaber (for *ghladhro-), ‘smooth;’ hence not ‘shining’ but ‘smooth’ is the prim. meaning of the Teut. cognates. The connection with Lith. glodùs, ‘fitting smoothly’ (from the root glud, ‘to cling to’?), is uncertain. Comp. also the following word, as well as glänzen and gleiten.