Etymology: Probably < either Middle Dutch cluchtich, cluftich capable, clever, skilful, agile, abundant (Dutch kluchtig , †cluftig ) or Middle Low German klüftich capable, dexterous, agile; these adjectives are perhaps cognate with Middle High German kluftic cleft, split < the Germanic base of cleave v.² (presumably in the sense ‘to discern, discriminate’) + the Germanic base of -y suffix¹.Compare also ( < Middle Low German) Norwegian klyftig clever, shrewd, Swedish klyftig clever, Danish kløgtig, (regional) kløftig, klyftig clever, witty.

Etymology: < clift n. + -y suffix¹.

Etymology: Probably < modern Greek κλέϕτης thief (medieval Greek κλέϕτης ; < ancient Greek κλέπτης : see klepto- comb. form).It is unclear in which language-contact situation this word was borrowed. An alternative derivation < Arabic kalifa ‘(of a person's face) to become brownish-red, to become freckled’ has sometimes been suggested, on the grounds that, in Turkey and some Arab cultures, a brownish-red face (flushed with blood) is considered to express shame, particularly when referring to someone who lies or steals; however, this suggestion is difficult to reconcile with the sense and form of the English word. Australian soldiers were stationed in Egypt and the Middle East, and (like the British) borrowed words from Arabic; however, they also spent time in Salonica in Greece. The source of quot. 1918 was a journal published in Palestine rather than in Egypt. Perhaps compare also English †clift (slang) to steal (early 19th cent.; of uncertain origin; rare).