"Clipless" pedals refer, of course, to the fact that they are not toe clips, which themselves were really more like toe "cages" than clips as there wasn't any spring-loaded connection to the pedal (I've no idea how the "clip" moniker originated.) So toe clips never used clips at all but clipless pedals do use clips - albeit, on the ball of the foot. I suppose they could have been called "ball clips" but that might have projected a kind of kinky S&M imagery not helpful to marketing efforts. :-)