clew

Clew is an English noun that serves as an archaic or variant spelling of clue. It has historically referred to two related concepts: a ball of thread, yarn, or cord used to mark a path or to unwind a maze, and, in its later sense, a piece of information or evidence that points toward a solution.

The ball-of-thread sense is best known from the myth of Theseus and Ariadne. Ariadne gives Theseus a clew to unwind as he enters the labyrinth, so that he can retrace his steps back to the entrance. This usage survives in phrases such as “Ariadne’s clew” and appears in older or literary writings to evoke guidance or a means of finding one’s way.

In modern English, clew is primarily an archaic or historical spelling of clue, the word now standard in contemporary usage to mean a hint, cue, or piece of information that helps solve a problem. The spelling clew persists in some literary contexts, historical discussions, and in several proper nouns or place names, for example Clew Bay in Ireland. Outside of these contexts, most writers use clue.

Summary: clew today is chiefly encountered as an old spelling of clue or as a term tied to the mythic ball of thread used to navigate a labyrinth. Its contemporary meaning aligns with clue, while the mythic sense remains a notable historic reference. See also clue, Ariadne, Theseus, Clew Bay.