"cley" meaning in Middle English

See cley in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /klæi̯/ Forms: clai [alternative], clay [alternative], claye [alternative], clei [alternative], cleiȝ [alternative], cleye [alternative]
Etymology: From Old English clǣġ, from Proto-West Germanic *klaij. Etymology templates: {{etymon|enm|:inh|ang:clǣġ|id=clay}} [Appendix:Glossary#inherited|Inherited]] from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang" : "gem-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-West Germanic", "term" : "*klaij", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "gmw-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Old English", "term" : "clǣġ", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ang" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Middle English", "term" : "cley", "lang" : "enm" }" data-id="clay" data-lang="enm" data-title="cley" id="Middle_English:_clay">, {{inh|enm|ang|clǣġ}} Old English clǣġ, {{inh|enm|gmw-pro|*klaij}} Proto-West Germanic *klaij Head templates: {{head|enm|noun|g=|g2=|g3=|head=|sort=}} cley, {{enm-noun|-}} cley (uncountable)
  1. Clay, plaster, or earth resembling it. Tags: uncountable
    Sense id: en-cley-enm-noun-pl863CK2 Categories (other): Pages with 3 entries, Middle English entries with etymon, Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Pages using etymon with no ID, Pages with etymon, Geology, Minerals Disambiguation of Pages with 3 entries: 4 27 24 22 12 11 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with etymon: 40 37 23 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 28 34 24 13 Disambiguation of Pages using etymon with no ID: 39 44 16 Disambiguation of Pages with etymon: 39 44 16 Disambiguation of Geology: 25 25 25 25 Disambiguation of Minerals: 32 24 20 23
  2. Any earth or soil Tags: uncountable
    Sense id: en-cley-enm-noun-f305OGKW Categories (other): Pages with 3 entries, Pages with entries, Middle English entries with etymon, Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Pages using etymon with no ID, Pages with etymon, Geology Disambiguation of Pages with 3 entries: 4 27 24 22 12 11 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 3 21 17 43 9 8 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with etymon: 40 37 23 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 28 34 24 13 Disambiguation of Pages using etymon with no ID: 39 44 16 Disambiguation of Pages with etymon: 39 44 16 Disambiguation of Geology: 25 25 25 25
  3. Something of little value or import. Tags: uncountable
    Sense id: en-cley-enm-noun-bq7nwpUj Categories (other): Pages with 3 entries, Middle English entries with etymon, Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Pages using etymon with no ID, Pages with etymon, Geology Disambiguation of Pages with 3 entries: 4 27 24 22 12 11 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with etymon: 40 37 23 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 28 34 24 13 Disambiguation of Pages using etymon with no ID: 39 44 16 Disambiguation of Pages with etymon: 39 44 16 Disambiguation of Geology: 25 25 25 25
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Related terms: cleyed, cleyen, cleyere, cleyye
Etymology number: 1

Noun

IPA: /ˈklæi̯(ə)/ Forms: cleys [plural], claye [alternative], clei [alternative]
Etymology: From Old French cloie. Etymology templates: {{etymid|enm|wooden frame}}, {{bor|enm|fro|cloie}} Old French cloie Head templates: {{head|enm|noun|g=|g2=|g3=|head=|sort=}} cley, {{enm-noun|cleys}} cley (plural cleys)
  1. A frame composed of planks crossed together.
    Sense id: en-cley-enm-noun-R6FtvItC Categories (other): Pages with 3 entries, Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Geology Disambiguation of Pages with 3 entries: 4 27 24 22 12 11 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 28 34 24 13 Disambiguation of Geology: 25 25 25 25
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 2

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "clay"
    },
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "cley"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "cley"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Yola",
      "lang_code": "yol",
      "word": "cley"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": "1",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": ":inh",
        "3": "ang:clǣġ",
        "id": "clay"
      },
      "expansion": "[Appendix:Glossary#inherited|Inherited]] from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*klaij\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"clǣġ\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"cley\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" }\" data-id=\"clay\" data-lang=\"enm\" data-title=\"cley\" id=\"Middle_English:_clay\">",
      "name": "etymon"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "clǣġ"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English clǣġ",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*klaij"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *klaij",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old English clǣġ, from Proto-West Germanic *klaij.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "clai",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "clay",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "claye",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "clei",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "cleiȝ",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "cleye",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "cley",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "cley (uncountable)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "cleyed"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "cleyen"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "cleyere"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "cleyye"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "4 27 24 22 12 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 3 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "40 37 23",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 34 24 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "39 44 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages using etymon with no ID",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "39 44 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "25 25 25 25",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Geology",
          "orig": "enm:Geology",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "32 24 20 23",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Minerals",
          "orig": "enm:Minerals",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Clay, plaster, or earth resembling it."
      ],
      "id": "en-cley-enm-noun-pl863CK2",
      "links": [
        [
          "Clay",
          "clay"
        ],
        [
          "plaster",
          "plaster"
        ],
        [
          "earth",
          "earth"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "4 27 24 22 12 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 3 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 21 17 43 9 8",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "40 37 23",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 34 24 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "39 44 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages using etymon with no ID",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "39 44 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "25 25 25 25",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Geology",
          "orig": "enm:Geology",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Any earth or soil"
      ],
      "id": "en-cley-enm-noun-f305OGKW",
      "links": [
        [
          "earth",
          "earth"
        ],
        [
          "soil",
          "soil"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "4 27 24 22 12 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 3 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "40 37 23",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 34 24 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "39 44 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages using etymon with no ID",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "39 44 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "25 25 25 25",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Geology",
          "orig": "enm:Geology",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Something of little value or import."
      ],
      "id": "en-cley-enm-noun-bq7nwpUj",
      "links": [
        [
          "value",
          "value"
        ],
        [
          "import",
          "import"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "uncountable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/klæi̯/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "cley"
}

{
  "etymology_number": "2",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "wooden frame"
      },
      "expansion": "",
      "name": "etymid"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "cloie"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French cloie",
      "name": "bor"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old French cloie.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "cleys",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "claye",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "clei",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "cley",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "cleys"
      },
      "expansion": "cley (plural cleys)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "4 27 24 22 12 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 3 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 34 24 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "25 25 25 25",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Geology",
          "orig": "enm:Geology",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A frame composed of planks crossed together."
      ],
      "id": "en-cley-enm-noun-R6FtvItC"
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈklæi̯(ə)/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "cley"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English entries with etymon",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Middle English terms borrowed from Old French",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old French",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Middle English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *gleyH-",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Indo-European",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Middle English uncountable nouns",
    "Pages using etymon with no ID",
    "Pages with 3 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Pages with etymon",
    "enm:Geology",
    "enm:Minerals"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "clay"
    },
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "cley"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "cley"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Yola",
      "lang_code": "yol",
      "word": "cley"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": "1",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": ":inh",
        "3": "ang:clǣġ",
        "id": "clay"
      },
      "expansion": "[Appendix:Glossary#inherited|Inherited]] from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*klaij\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"clǣġ\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"cley\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" }\" data-id=\"clay\" data-lang=\"enm\" data-title=\"cley\" id=\"Middle_English:_clay\">",
      "name": "etymon"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "clǣġ"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English clǣġ",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*klaij"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *klaij",
      "name": "inh"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old English clǣġ, from Proto-West Germanic *klaij.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "clai",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "clay",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "claye",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "clei",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "cleiȝ",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "cleye",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "cley",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "cley (uncountable)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "cleyed"
    },
    {
      "word": "cleyen"
    },
    {
      "word": "cleyere"
    },
    {
      "word": "cleyye"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Clay, plaster, or earth resembling it."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Clay",
          "clay"
        ],
        [
          "plaster",
          "plaster"
        ],
        [
          "earth",
          "earth"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Any earth or soil"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "earth",
          "earth"
        ],
        [
          "soil",
          "soil"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Something of little value or import."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "value",
          "value"
        ],
        [
          "import",
          "import"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "uncountable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/klæi̯/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "cley"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Middle English terms borrowed from Old French",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old French",
    "Pages with 3 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Geology",
    "enm:Minerals"
  ],
  "etymology_number": "2",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "wooden frame"
      },
      "expansion": "",
      "name": "etymid"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "cloie"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French cloie",
      "name": "bor"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old French cloie.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "cleys",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "claye",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "clei",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "cley",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "cleys"
      },
      "expansion": "cley (plural cleys)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A frame composed of planks crossed together."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈklæi̯(ə)/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "cley"
}

Download raw JSONL data for cley meaning in Middle English (4.5kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-07-16 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-07-06 using wiktextract (e62056b and e7887d5). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.