apron
/ˈeɪ.prən/
noun
Origin
Old French
naperon — a small tablecloth
Overview
Meaning Now
- A protective garment worn over the front of one's clothes to keep them clean.
- A piece of decorative cloth or a similar item used for covering the lap.
- A paved area at an airport where aircraft are parked, loaded, or refuelled.
Literal older meaning
a cloth for the front
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
napron
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The word is a classic example of 'metanalysis' or 'rebracketing'. In Middle English, the indefinite article 'a' followed by 'napron' sounded like 'an apron' to speakers, leading to the loss of the initial 'n'.
Evolution
- 12th century Latin
mappa
“cloth or napkin”
- 13th century Old French
naperon
“small tablecloth”
Diminutive of nape (tablecloth).
- 14th century Middle English
napron
“cloth covering for the lap”
- 16th century English
apron
“protective garment”
Rebracketing error where 'a napron' was heard as 'an apron'.
Connections
Word parts
apron
root
protective front garment
Related across languages
French
napperon
doily or table mat
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Related to apron
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.