carpet
- a heavy fabric, commonly of wool or nylon, for covering floors.
- a covering of this material.
- any relatively soft surface or covering like a carpet: They walked on the carpet of grass.
- any of a number of airborne electronic devices for jamming radar.
- a system of such devices.
- to cover or furnish with or as with a carpet.
- Chiefly British. to reprimand.
- on the carpet,
- before an authority or superior for an accounting of one's actions or a reprimand: He was called on the carpet again for his carelessness.
- Chiefly British.under consideration or discussion.
Origin of carpet
Examples from the Web for carpet
Contemporary Examples
The carpet is stained from the door to the window with red wine.
I Watched a Casino Kill Itself: The Awful Last Nights of Atlantic City’s Taj MahalOlivia Nuzzi
December 8, 2014
His father, Hassan, is a carpet merchant with close relations to senior members of the conservative Islamic Coalition Party.
And it is a situation impossible to brush under the carpet because the Confederacy transformed the Union.
But Friday morning, the monthly jobs report dumped a steaming pile of caution on the carpet.
The fact that Israel gets called on the carpet so often is wrapped in a multitude of sometimes contradictory factors.
Historical Examples
He didn't see that she was perspiring, worn out by her struggle with the carpet.
Life and Death of Harriett FreanMay Sinclair
The carpet was soft and rich; it gave back no sound of footfall.
Ester Ried Yet SpeakingIsabella Alden
Convalescents who were able to walk flapped along in carpet slippers.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
On the steps, a carpet, thick and heavy, muffled his footfalls.
The Black BagLouis Joseph Vance
Mr Dorrit stood rooted to the carpet, a statue of mystification.
Little DorritCharles Dickens
carpet
- a heavy fabric for covering floors
- (as modifier)a carpet sale
- a covering like a carpeta carpet of leaves
- on the carpet informal
- before authority to be reproved for misconduct or error
- under consideration
- to cover with or as if with a carpet
- informal to reprimand
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for carpet
n.
late 13c., "coarse cloth;" mid-14c., "tablecloth, bedspread;" from Old French carpite "heavy decorated cloth, carpet," from Medieval Latin or Old Italian carpita "thick woolen cloth," probably from Latin 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 (n.)). Meaning shifted 15c. to floor coverings.
From 16c.-19c. as an adjective 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 or push something under the carpet in the figurative sense is first recorded 1953.
v.
"to cover with a carpet," 1620s, from carpet (n.). Meaning "call to reprimand" is from 1840. Related: Carpeted; carpeting.
Idioms and Phrases with carpet
carpet
see call on the carpet; red carpet. Also see under rug.