cliff

cliff
\ \ [OE] Cliff comes from a prehistoric Germanic *kliban, of unknown origin (German klippe ‘crag’ is a collateral relative). The compound cliffhanger seems to have originated in the USA in the 1930s; it comes from the serial movies then popular, in which at the end of each episode the hero or heroine was left in some perilous situation, such as hanging off the edge of a cliff, not resolved until the next instalment.

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?
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  • Cliff — ist der Vorname folgender Personen: Cliff Burton (1962–1986), US amerikanischer Bassist Cliff Carlisle (1904–1983), US amerikanischer Country Musiker Cliff Richard (* 1940), britischer Musiker Cliff Sterrett (1883–1964), US amerikanischer… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • cliff — [ klıf ] noun count ** the steep side of an area of high land: They pushed the car over the edge of the cliff. a. only before noun relating to a cliff: the cliff edge/face/top …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Cliff — (kl[i^]f), n. [AS. clif, cloef; akin to OS. klif, D. klif, klip, Icel. klif, Dan. & G. klippe, Sw. klippa; perh. orig. a climbing place. See {Climb}.] A high, steep rock; a precipice. [1913 Webster] {Cliff swallow} (Zo[ o]l.), a North American… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cliff — O.E. clif, from P.Gmc. *kliban (Cf. O.S. clif, O.N. klif, O.H.G. klep, M.Du. klippe, Ger. Klippe cliff, steep rock ), perhaps from PIE root *gleibh to adhere, be attached. Cliff dweller first attested 1889, Amer.Eng …   Etymology dictionary

  • Cliff — (Valle di Cadore,Италия) Категория отеля: Адрес: Via Marconi 12, 32040 Valle di Cadore, Итали …   Каталог отелей

  • Cliff — Cliff, n. (Mus.) See {Clef}. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cliff — m English: short form of CLIFFORD (SEE Clifford).(now also sometimes of CLIFTON (SEE Clifton)). It is commonly used as an independent given name, especially since the rise to fame in the 1950s of the pop singer Cliff Richard (real name Harry… …   First names dictionary

  • cliff — cliff; cliff·less; …   English syllables

  • cliff — [klıf] n [: Old English; Origin: clif] a large area of rock or a mountain with a very steep side, often at the edge of the sea or a river …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • cliff — [n] overhang on hill or mountain bluff, crag, escarpment, face, precipice, rock face, rocky height, scar, scarp, steep rock, wall; concept 509 …   New thesaurus

  • cliff — ► NOUN ▪ a steep rock face, especially at the edge of the sea. DERIVATIVES cliffy adjective. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

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