Clay
/kleɪ/noun
A soft, fine-grained earth that becomes hard when baked or fired.
Did you know?The word goes back to a Germanic root meaning a sticky, adhesive substance, which is why clay is etymologically tied to the idea of something that clings and binds.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gley-
“to be sticky, to adhere”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*klaijaz
“clay, sticky earth”
Old English
English
clǣg
“clay, mud”
Middle English
English
clai
“clay”
Modern English
English
clay
“fine earth used for pottery, building, and other purposes”