A clew was a ball of thread. The story of Ariadne giving Theseus thread to navigate the Labyrinth made it a powerful image for finding a way through confusion. The physical guide became an intellectual one.
Sources
- Merriam-Webster · clue
Dictionary word history; the component and historical references below supply additional detail.
- Online Etymology Dictionary · clue
Historical forms, meanings, and context for the route described here.
- Merriam-Webster · clew
Meaning of the component used in this puzzle.