*klappōn

Reconstruction

Wiktionary reconstructs *klappōn for Proto-West Germanic.^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Germanic *klappōną (“to clap, to strike”),^[1][2] which Köbler gives as *klapōn, *klappōn and EWA as *klap(p)ōi̯e/a-.^[3][2] Wiktionary analyses it as a noun *klapp "a hit, clap" with the suffix *-ōn.^[1] EWA calls the whole group of *klap- onomatopoeic, with nothing to compare outside Germanic; the ablaut *a : *u shows that the verb was fitted into the Germanic ablaut classes, and EWA gives up the old link with a root *gal- "to call, to shout",^[2] which Köbler still cites.^[3] Beside it EWA sets a formally different *klapi̯e/a- and, with another vowel, a West Germanic *klop(p)ōi̯e/a-,^[2] which Wiktionary reconstructs as *kloppōn.^[4]

Morphology

A weak verb of class II.^[2][5] Outside Old High German, EWA finds only forms with the onomatopoeic geminate.^[2] Old English has clappian beside clæppan.^[6]

Evidence

The verb is attested in Old English clappian,^[7] Old Frisian klappia^[8] and Old High German klaffōn, also klapfōn, from the 10th century in glosses and Notker.^[2] For Old Saxon, EWA infers a verb without the geminate from the derivative Old Saxon klapunga (“clattering”),^[2] which glosses Latin strīdor in a 10th-century glossary.^[9][10] Old Dutch has it only in the byname Old Dutch Claptant "clatter-tooth",^[2] which ONW records in the Utrecht charters.^[11] Wiktionary marks the Old English verb as unattested,^[1] but Holthausen and Köbler list the verb.^[7][5]

Meanings

1. to clap, to strike or pound, especially two things against each other^[1]
2. to make loud noises^[1]
3. to chatter^[1]

Old High German used the verb for "to boom, to crash, to clatter, to rattle, to cry",^[2] Old Frisian for "to ring, to sound",^[8] and Old English for "to knock, to beat".^[7]

Reflexes

• Old English: clappian (“to knock, to beat”)^[7]
• Old Frisian: klappia (“to ring, to sound”)^[8]
• Old High German: klaffōn (“to boom, to crash, to clatter, to rattle”)^[2]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *klappōn
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lloyd, Albert L.; Springer, Otto; Lühr, Rosemarie, et al. (1988–), Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Althochdeutschen, Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht; online ewa.saw-leipzig.de, p. s.v. klaffôn
3. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Germanisches Wörterbuch, 5th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. *klapōn
4. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org, p. s.v. *kloppōn
5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Altenglisches Wörterbuch, 4th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. clappian
6. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Altenglisches Wörterbuch, 4th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. clæppan
7. ^ a b c d Holthausen, Ferdinand (1934), Altenglisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, Heidelberg: Carl Winter, p. s.v. clappian
8. ^ a b c Hofmann, Dietrich; Popkema, Anne Tjerk (2008), Altfriesisches Handwörterbuch, Heidelberg: Carl Winter, p. s.v. klappia
9. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Altsächsisches Wörterbuch, 5th ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling, p. s.v. klapunga
10. ^ Tiefenbach, Heinrich (2010), Altsächsisches Handwörterbuch / A Concise Old Saxon Dictionary, Berlin / New York: De Gruyter, p. s.v. klapunga
11. ^ Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org, p. s.v. klaptant