Middle English word clane comes from Proto-Indo-European *gʷel-, and later Proto-Germanic *klainiz (Shining, fine, splendid. Tender, precious.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *gʷel- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *gley- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *g(e)lēi- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *glēy- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *klainiz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Shining, fine, splendid. Tender, precious. |
| clæne | Old English (ang) | Clean. Clear. |
| clǣne | Old English (ang) | |
| clene | Middle English (enm) | Clean. |