клёвый

First recorded in 1820 by A. A. Uspensky in the Fenya argot of Vladimir with the meaning 'noble' (provided клювый (kljuvyj) in the "Suzdal dialect" by Pallas in 1787 is a misprint or typo instead of *кліовый). From the second half of the 19th century, it also appears in thieves' argot.

According to Preobrazhensky's suggestion, supported by Vasmer, it comes from the verb клевать (klevatʹ) (further from Proto-Slavic *klьvati, from which originated, among others: Old Church Slavonic кльвати (klĭvati), perfective клюнѫти (kljunǫti), Ukrainian клювати (kljuvaty), Belarusian клюваць (kljuvacʹ), Bulgarian кълва́ (kǎlvá, “I peck”), Serbo-Croatian кљу̏jем, кљу̀вати, Slovene kljuváti, kljújem, Old Czech kl᾽uju, klvati, Czech klít (from *kljuti), Polish kluć, klwać, Upper Sorbian kluwać sо (“tease one another”), Lower Sorbian kluju (“I peel”), modern kluwaś). In this case, it may come from fishermen's jargon, with the original meaning '(good) pecking'.

According to an alternative hypothesis by Studinsky, supported by Bondaletov, from Greek kλέος 'glory, honor' (a noticeable number of Greek borrowings of not entirely clear origin are known in the Fenya argot). According to Priyomysheva, difficulties with the entry of the word into the literary language may testify in favour/favor of this version.

Cf. Dalya: клюжий (kljužij) (from клюдь (kljudʹ)), клювый (kljuvyj) 'good, good-looking, handsome, stately, prominent'.

• IPA^(key):

клёвый • (kljóvyj) (comparative (по)клёвее or (по)клёвей, superlative са́мый клёвый)

1. (slang) cool, excellent, awesome

   Synonyms: круто́й (krutój); нехи́лый (nexílyj); обалде́нный (obaldénnyj); (vulgar) охуе́нный (oxujénnyj); (vulgar) охуи́тельный (oxuítelʹnyj)

   Клёвый у тебя́ прики́д, чува́к!

   Kljóvyj u tebjá prikíd, čuvák!

   Man, your rags rock!

   Ты о́чень клёвый мужи́к.

   Ty óčenʹ kljóvyj mužík.

   You’re a very cool guy.

   Чува́к, ты клёвый!

   Čuvák, ty kljóvyj!

   Dude, you’re awesome!

   Клёвый паца́н.

   Kljóvyj pacán.

   Cool dude.

• квё́лый (kvjólyj)