Clue:
* Origin: The word "clue" comes from the Old English word "clēowen," meaning "ball of thread" or "skein." This refers to the practice in ancient Greece of using a ball of thread to navigate a labyrinth or maze.
* Meaning: In modern English, "clue" refers to a piece of information that helps to solve a mystery or puzzle.
Yarn:
* Origin: The word "yarn" comes from the Old English word "gearn," meaning "thread."
* Meaning: "Yarn" can refer to the thread used in knitting or weaving, or it can be used more figuratively to mean a story, especially one that is long and rambling.
While the two words share a common root in the concept of thread, they have evolved to represent different things. "Clue" refers to the literal thread used in a labyrinth, while "yarn" refers to the long, tangled threads used in weaving, and the stories that people spin like threads.