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
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 on the carpet
carpet
v.
"to cover with a carpet," 1620s, from carpet (n.). Meaning "call to reprimand" is from 1840. Related: Carpeted; carpeting.
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.
Idioms and Phrases with on the carpet
on the carpet
see call on the carpet.
carpet
see call on the carpet; red carpet. Also see under rug.