An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Klippe

by Friedrich Kluge

Klippe, feminine, ‘cliff,’ from the equivalent Middle High German (Lower Rhenish) klippe, feminine, borrowed from Middle Dutch klippe; compare Dutch klip; allied to a Teutonic root klib, as is shown by Old Icelandic kleif, neuter, ‘cliffs’; compare also Anglo-Saxon clif, neuter, English cliff, Old Icelandic klif, neuter, Old Saxon klif, Old High German klëb, neuter, all pointing to a Gothic *klif, klibis, neuter, ‘rock, hill’ They have been connected with Icelandic klífa, verb, ‘to climb’ (see under kleiben), but on account of the primary meaning ‘to cleave (to),’ this is scarcely satisfactory.