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We encounter both spellings, clew and clue in old mysteries. I thought it was just a matter of spelling which standardized around the mid-twentieth century. Actually, "clew" is an interesting and appropriate word for crime investigations.
I recently obtained the book, "The Man From the Train" by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James. On page 85 is this: "(It is unclear whether Prettyman knew that a 'clew' was in fact a ball of twine. The modern word CLUE evolved from the word clew, which meant a ball of string or twine.)
Of course that interested me so I looked up the etymology of both words and I will let the "Online Etymology Dictionary" say the rest.
I recently obtained the book, "The Man From the Train" by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James. On page 85 is this: "(It is unclear whether Prettyman knew that a 'clew' was in fact a ball of twine. The modern word CLUE evolved from the word clew, which meant a ball of string or twine.)
Of course that interested me so I looked up the etymology of both words and I will let the "Online Etymology Dictionary" say the rest.
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