From Proto-Turkic *kẹlin (“bride, daughter-in-law”). Probably a derivation from Proto-Turkic *kẹl- (“to come”), whence also Azerbaijani gəlmək. The etymology is probably based on the fact that a daughter-in-law used to be a newcomer in her husband's extended household. Starostin et al. reject the seemingly obvious relation between the two roots in favor of the form *kele reconstructed for the largely discredited Proto-Altaic. Cognate with Old Turkic 𐰚𐰠𐰤 (kelin /⁠kl²n²⁠/, “daughter-in-law”), Turkish gelin (“daughter-in-law”), Gagauz gelin (“bride”), Bashkir килен (kilen, “bride, young wife”), etc.