Klette

German

Etymology

From Middle High German klette, from Old High German kletta f, kletto m, from Proto-Indo-European *gleyt- (“to cling to, cleave, stick”), from *gley-. Cognate with Old Saxon kledda f, kleddo m and Middle Low German klette. Related to klettern (“to climb”) and Kleid (“dress”), also Middle Dutch clisse, Dutch klis, Old English cliþe, clāte and English clote (“burdock”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈklɛtə/
• Rhymes: -ɛtə

Noun

Klette f (genitive Klette, plural Kletten)

1. burdock
2. a burr (a seed pod with sharp features that stick in fur or clothing)
3. (figuratively) a clingy person

Derived terms

• Klettverschluss

Related terms

• kletten

Further reading

• “Klette” in Duden online