tapestry
/ˈtæpɪstri/
noun
Origin
Old French
tapissier — to cover, to drape
Overview
Meaning Now
- A heavy textile used for wall hanging, furniture covering, or floor decoration, typically featuring intricate woven designs or pictorial scenes.
- A complex combination of diverse elements or layers of experience that form a cohesive whole.
Literal older meaning
a fabric worked with a heavy needle (from the notion of 'carpeting' or 'covering').
Language path
Ancient Greek → Late Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
tapestre
Earliest period
late 14th century
Journey
The term originates from the Greek 'tapes', denoting heavy decorative cloth. In the Middle Ages, tapestries were highly valued not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their functional role in insulating cold stone castle walls.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
tapes
“rug, carpet, or tapestry”
- Late Latin
tapetium
“cloth covering, rug”
- Old French
tapisserie
“the craft of weaving or the textile itself”
- Middle English
tapestre
“woven hanging”
borrowed from Old French
Connections
Word parts
tapis
root
rug, carpet
-erie
suffix
craft or place of production
Related across languages
French
tapisserie
tapestry or upholstery
Italian
tappeto
carpet
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Related to tapestry
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.