An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/klieben

by Friedrich Kluge

klieben, vb., ‘to split,’ from MidHG. klieben, OHG. chlioban, vb., ‘to split, cleave’; corresponding to OSax. clioƀan, AS. cleófan, E. to cleave. From the correspondence of the other Teut. dials. we may assume Goth. *klûban, *kliuban, ‘to split.’ Under klauben a vb. from the same root klū̆b, by gradation kleub, ‘to work with a sharp instrument,’ has been discussed, to which is allied Gr. γλυφ (γλύφω, ‘to hollow out, carve,’ γλύανος, ‘chisel,’ γλύπτης, ‘carver’), perhaps also Lat. glûbo, ‘to peel.’ With the Aryan root glū̆bh, by gradation gleubh, Kloben, Kluft, and Kluppe are also connected.