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Traditionally derived from Proto-Indo-European*kleh₂-, a metathesized form of *kelh₂-(“to hit, cut down”). Cognate with Latinclādes, Proto-Germanic*hultą(“wood, timber; copse, thicket”) (Englishholt), Old Irishcaill(“forest, wood, woodland”), and maybe Albanianshul(“door latch”). Compare Ancient Greek κλᾰ́δος(kládos, “branch, shoot”) and κόλαφος(kólaphos, “hit, blow”, noun), which may or may not be derived from the same root, as well as κλᾰ́ω(kláō, “to break off”), from *kelh₂-.
An alternative etymology by Matasovic links Proto-Celtic*klāros(“board, plank”) (whence Proto-Brythonic*klọr, Old Irishclár), from Proto-Indo-European*kléh₂ros, assuming the original meaning of the Greek word was “piece of wood for casting lots” (said original meaning is also agreed on by Beekes).[1] For this, the PIE root may be *kleh₂-(“to lay out, lay down, set, load, stow”), if not identical to the above.
Beekes doubts these etymologies on purely semantic grounds and suggests a Pre-Greek origin.[2]