carpet

carpet
carpet late 13c., "coarse cloth;" mid-14c., "tablecloth, bedspread;" from O.Fr. carpite "heavy decorated cloth," from M.L. carpita "thick woolen cloth," pp. of L. carpere "to card, pluck," probably so called because it was made from unraveled, shreded, "plucked" fabric; from PIE *kerp- "to gather, pluck, harvest" (see HARVEST (Cf. harvest)). Meaning shifted 15c. to floor coverings. From 16c.-19c. often with a tinge of contempt, when used of men (e.g. carpet-knight, 1570s) by association with luxury, ladies' boudoirs, and drawing rooms. On the carpet "summoned for reprimand" is 1900, U.S. colloquial (but Cf. carpet (v.) "call (someone) to be reprimanded," 1823, British servants' slang). To sweep (something) under the carpet in the figurative sense is first recorded 1963. The verb meaning "to cover with a carpet" is from 1620s. Related: Carpeted; carpeting.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Carpet — Car pet (k[aum]r p[e^]t), n. [OF. carpite rug, soft of cloth, F. carpette coarse packing cloth, rug (cf. It. carpita rug, blanket), LL. carpeta, carpita, woolly cloths, fr. L. carpere to pluck, to card (wool); cf. Gr. karpo s fruit, E.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • carpet — ► NOUN 1) a floor covering made from thick woven fabric. 2) a large rug. 3) a thick or soft expanse or layer: a carpet of bluebells. ► VERB (carpeted, carpeting) 1) cover with a carpet. 2) …   English terms dictionary

  • carpet — [kär′pət] n. [ME < OFr carpite, carpet, kind of cloth < ML carpita, thick woolen cloth < pp. of L carpere, to card, pluck: see EXCERPT] 1. a thick, heavy fabric of wool, cotton, or synthetic fibers for covering a floor, stairs, etc.: it… …   English World dictionary

  • Carpet — Car pet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Carpeted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Carpeting}.] To cover with, or as with, a carpet; to spread with carpets; to furnish with a carpet or carpets. [1913 Webster] Carpeted temples in fashionable squares. E. Everett. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cârpet — CÂRPÉT, cârpeturi, s.n. (Rar) Obiecte de îmbrăcăminte ieftine, proaste. – Din cârpă + suf. et. Trimis de gall, 03.02.2008. Sursa: DLRM …   Dicționar Român

  • carpet — [n] nappy floor covering carpeting, matting, rug, runner, tapestry, throw rug, wall to wall*; concept 473 …   New thesaurus

  • Carpet — For other uses, see Carpet (disambiguation). The Azerbaijani carpet, a UNESCO Masterpiece of Intangible Heritage of Humanity …   Wikipedia

  • carpet — n. 1) to beat a carpet 2) to lay a carpet 3) to take up a carpet (the carpet must be taken up and cleaned) 4) (misc.) to roll out the red carpet for smb. ( to give smb. a warm reception ); a flying, magic carpet; to call smb. on the carpet ( to… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • carpet — noun 1 material for covering floors ADJECTIVE ▪ deep pile (esp. BrE), lush (esp. AmE), plush (AmE), shag (esp. AmE), shag pile (BrE), soft, thick ▪ …   Collocations dictionary

  • carpet — n. & v. n. 1 a thick fabric for covering a floor or stairs. b a piece of this fabric. 2 an expanse or layer resembling a carpet in being smooth, soft, bright, or thick (carpet of snow). v.tr. (carpeted, carpeting) 1 cover with or as with a carpet …   Useful english dictionary

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