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carpet

KAHR-pit · noun

Old ArmenianMiddle ArmenianMedieval LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Origin

English carpet comes from late Middle English carpette, from Old French carpite, from Medieval Latin carpita (or Italian carpita), which Florentines introduced in the 13th century from Middle Armenian կարպետ (karpet, "carpet, rug"), itself from earlier Armenian կապերտ (kapert).

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Journey

The word passed from Armenian into Medieval Latin and Italian, then into Old French, and finally into Middle English as carpette before settling into its modern English spelling and meaning.

Related words

Carpet's trail runs straight back through French, Latin, and Italian to its Armenian root, with no branching relative named along the way.

More words

From Medieval Latin

Nearby, A–Z

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