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clé

Etymology and origin of the French word clé

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Inherited
First attested
c. 1100, Chanson de Roland (clef)
Inherited from
Latin clavis via Old French
Ultimate origin
Latin (clāvis)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin clavis
English conclave
French clé

Pronunciation

Forms

clé f (plural clés)[1] Also spelled clef, Old French clef, plural clez.[2][3][1] The spelling clé was taken from the plural clés; both are now accepted.[2][4]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French clef, inherited from Latin clāvis (“key; bolt, bar”).[2][3][4][1] The Latin word is related to clāvus (“nail”) (see clou) and claudō (“to shut”) (see clore).[4]

Cognate with Italian chiave, Romanian cheie, Occitan clau, Spanish llave and Portuguese chave.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Chanson de Roland (about 1100) has clef for the metal instrument that opens a door.[2]

Semantic evolution

Philippe de Thaon (1115–30) uses it for what explains something, a formula for working out the movable feasts, and Wace has cles del ciel.[2] Chrétien de Troyes speaks of la clef d'amors (1181–90), what gives access; in 1268 it is a strategic position commanding a region, and la clé des champs is in a proverb collection of 1317.[2] Technical uses include the keystone of a vault (13th century), the clef in music (before 1407) and a spanner or wrench.[2][1]

Furetière (1690) records clef as a code for deciphering, and the clef of a novel.[2] À la clé “into the bargain” is from 1866–72, and clé USB names a USB stick.[5][2][1]

Timeline

  • c. 1100 – Clef, Chanson de Roland.[2]
  • 1115–30 – “What explains”, Philippe de Thaon.[2]
  • 13th century – Clef de la voute.[2]
  • 1317 – Avoir les clez des chans.[2]
  • before 1407 – A clef in music, Eustache Deschamps.[2]
  • 1690 – A cipher key, clef d'un roman, Furetière.[2]
  • 1872 – À la clef.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A key: la clé de la porte, fermer à clé, mettre la clé sous la porte, to shut up shop.[4][1]
  2. The key (to a problem, a mystery): la clé de l'énigme, roman à clé.[1][2]
  3. (as adjective) Key, essential: un poste clé.[1][5]
  4. A spanner, wrench: clé anglaise, clé à molette.[1]
  5. (music) A clef: clé de sol.[1][2]
  6. Clé de voûte: keystone.[1][2]
  7. Clé USB: a USB stick, (cryptography) a key.[1]
  8. La clé des champs: freedom, prendre la clé des champs, to run off.[2][1]
  • clavier
  • enclaver
  • clef
  • clou
  • clore
  • Latin clāvis

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Clé.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/cl%C3%A9. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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