A high, steep rock face, often at the edge of the sea or a valley. It usually has a sharp drop and can be dangerous to climb or stand near.
From Old English "clif" meaning "steep rock, cliff," related to words meaning "slope" or "bank" in other Germanic languages. The basic meaning of a steep, high side has stayed stable for centuries.
The idea of a sudden drop is so strong that we now talk about "fiscal cliffs" and "emotional cliffs" too. The physical fear of falling turned into a mental picture for any situation where things could suddenly go very wrong.
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