parquet
- a floor composed of short strips or blocks of wood forming a pattern, sometimes with inlays of other woods or other materials.
- the part of the main floor of a theater, opera house, etc., that is between the musicians' area and the parterre or rear division or, especially in the U.S., the entire floor space for spectators.
- to construct (a floor) of parquetry.
Origin of parquet
Examples from the Web for parquet
Historical Examples of parquet
"Give us the truth," some one at the left of the parquet cried.
An American SuffragetteIsaac N. Stevens
There's a man over there in the parquet that I want to say a word to; don't wait for me.
The Crusade of the ExcelsiorBret Harte
The parquet floor was to be supplied with rugs of warm Eastern colours.
The Lady of the Basement FlatMrs. George de Horne Vaizey
Within, the wards are lined by glazed tiles, and the floors are of parquet.
Holborn and BloomsburySir Walter Besant
Zollern tapped his cane on the parquet floor, rhythmically, persistently.
A German PompadourMarie Hay
parquet
- a floor covering of pieces of hardwood fitted in a decorative pattern; parquetry
- Also called: parquet floor a floor so covered
- US the stalls of a theatre
- the main part of the Paris Bourse, where officially listed securities are tradedCompare coulisse (def. 3)
- (in France) the department of government responsible for the prosecution of crimes
- to cover (a floor) with parquet
Word Origin for parquet
Word Origin and History for parquet
1816, "patterned wooden flooring," from French parquet "wooden flooring; enclosed portion of a park," from Old French parchet (14c.) "small compartment, part of a park or theater," diminutive of parc (see park (n.)).
Meaning "part of a theater auditorium at the front of the ground floor" is first recorded 1848. The noun use in English has been influenced by the verb (attested from 1640s, from French parqueter. Related: Parquetry