Carpet sb.

Also 4 karpete, (6 carpente), 5–6 carpette, -pyte, 6 carpett, -pete, 6–7 carpit. [ME. carpete, varying with carpette, and in 16th c. carpyte: from F. or med.L., and this from It. OF. had carpite (13th c.), sort of coarse cloth (mod.F. carpette rug, small (Turkish) carpet is app. from Eng.). Med.L. had carpita, carpeta, explained by Carpentier in Du Cange as ‘a kind of villose or thickish cloth, and a garment of that cloth’; also carpetta. Florio has It. carpetta ‘a carpet for a table’; mod. Ital. dicts. carpita a coarse carpet; La Crusca says ‘a coarse hanging for a table, made of rough woollen materials, and of patches, of motley colours.’

  Carpīta is etymologically identical with F. charpie (Pic. carpie, Latinized carpia 13th c.) ‘lint (for surgical purposes) procured by the unravelling of old linen,’ the pa. pple. fem. of OF. charpir to card wool, to unravel cloth & reduce it to threads, to tear to shreds, corresp. to It. carpire, pa. pple. carpito, representing (with change of conjugation) L. carpĕre to card, pick, pluck, tear, pull in pieces. The name carpīta may have been originally given to a fabric formed of unravelled cloth, or of shreds of cloth patched together. The variants carpeta, carpetta also occur in later med.L., doubtless from Italian carpetta, which assumes the form of a diminutive.]

  I.  As a simple sb.

  ¶ In med.Lat. use, ‘A kind of villose or thickish cloth, and a garment of that cloth.’ Carpentier cites, inter alia,

1291.  Carmelite Rule, Habeat unusquisque frater unam Carpitam, quod est nostræ Religionis signum, non de petiis consutam sed contextam [a carpet which is the distinctive dress of our order, not sewed together of pieces (or patches) but woven together].

1295.  Unam carpitam de panno serico velluto [a carpet of silk velvet cloth].

  † 1.  A thick fabric, commonly of wool, used to cover tables, beds, etc.; a table-cloth. Obs.

1345.  Sacrist’s Roll Lichfield Cathed. (Derbysh. Archæol. Trans.), 9. Item unus pannus qui vocatur Karpete.

1434.  in Rogers, Agric. & Prices, IV. 577.

1513.  Bk. Keruynge, in Babees Bk., 283. Laye carpentes about the bedde.

1527.  Inv. Sir H. Guildford’s Goods (MS.), A carpet of grenc cloth for a lytill foulding table.

1563.  Foxe, A. & M., an. 1555, Oct. The carpet or cloth, which lay upon the table whereat M. Ridley stood, was remoued.

1642.  Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., IV. x. 287. A Communion-table will not catch cold with wanting a rich carpet.

1702.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3851/4. One green Cloth Carpet, with a small Fringe round it, for the Communion Table.

1727–51.  Chambers, Cycl., Carpet, a sort of covering … to be spread on a table, trunk, an estrade, or even a passage, or floor.

1728.  Newton, Chronol. Amended, To adorn their beds and tables with rich furniture and carpets.

  b.  On the carpet (i.e., of the council table): under consideration or discussion. [cf. F. sur le tapis.]

1726.  Wodrow Corr. (1843), III. 255. The great cry made for the people’s powers in election … which is the case now upon the carpet.

a. 1734.  North, Lives, Pref. 21. These three brothers, whose lives are upon the carpet before me.

1773.  R. Graves, Spirit. Quix., X. xi. (D.). He … contrived to bring another subject upon the carpet.

1800.  Weems, Washington, xii. (1877), 187. A question of importance being on the carpet.

1855.  Motley, Dutch Rep., IV. iii. (1865), 604/2. An alliance between France and England, and perhaps between Alençon and Elizabeth, was on the carpet.

  2.  A similar fabric, generally worked in a pattern of divers colors, used to spread on a floor or the ground, for standing, sitting, or kneeling on, or (now usually) to cover a floor, or stair. Also the material, as in ‘a piece of carpet.’

1438–60.  Lib. de Antiq. Legib., ccvi. Duas vestes vocatas Carpette sternendas coram fontem ecclesiæ.

14[?].  MS. Addit. 6113 f. 106 a, in Dom. Archit., III. 107. Iij chambres of pleasaunce … all the floures covered with carpettes.

1513.  More, Rich. III. (1641), 439. On a carpit in a Ladies chamber.

1548.  Hall, Edw. IV., 234 (R.). A prelate, more mete for a ladyes carpet, than for an ecclesiasticall pulpet.

1580.  Baret, Alv., C 144. A carpet of Turky, Polymeta phrygia.

1682.  Dryden, Mac Fl., 9. No Persian carpets spread th’ imperial way.

1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 289, ¶ 9. The Dervise … laid down his Wallet, and spread his Carpet after the Manner of the Eastern Nations.

1839.  trans. Lamartine’s Trav. East, 155/1. [In] the mosques … I found a small number of Turks, seated cross-legged, or kneeling on the carpets.

1861.  Flor. Nightingale, Nursing, 61. A dirty carpet … infects the [sick] room.

  b.  Being, at first, chiefly a luxury of a lady’s chamber, it became an attribute of luxury and effeminacy (see esp. 6); also of the chamber, drawing room, or court, as opposed to the camp or field.

1581.  Styward, Mart. Discipl., To Rdr. 2. Whereby we maie not be reputed sleepers, or followers too much of the carpet.

1630.  Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 32. For the times began to be quick and active, and fitter for stronger motions, than those of the Carpet. Ibid., 40. They were of the Court and Carpet, not led by the genius of the Camp.

  † c.  Knight of the carpet: see quotations; also = CARPET-KNIGHT. Obs.

1547[?].  in Strype, Eccl. Mem., II. II. App. E. The Knights of the Carpet dubbed by the King on Shrove Tuesday. [These were evidently Knights Bachelors; the list follows that of the Knights of the Bath made at same time.]

1586.  Ferne, Blaz. Gentrie, 105. A Knight … may be dubbed … in the time of peace vpon the Carpet … he is called a Knight of the carpet, bycause that the King sitteth in his regall chaire of estate and the Gentleman … kneeleth before his Soueraigne vpon the carpet or cloth vsually spred … for the Soueraignes footestoole.

1630.  Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 47. A worse Christian than he was, & a better knight of the carpet than he should be.

1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, III. 57/2. Knights of the Carpet, or Knights of the Green Cloth; to distinguish them from Knights that are Dubbed as Soldiers are in the Field.

  d.  To walk the carpet: said of a servant summoned before the master or mistress for a reprimand. (Cf. CARPET v. 4.)

1823.  Galt, Entail, III. xxix. 278. Making … her servants ‘walk the carpet.’

  3.  fig. Applied to a covering or expanse, as of grass or flowers, resembling a carpet in smoothness, softness, or varied coloring.

1593.  Shaks., Rich. II., II. iii. 49.

1670.  Evelyn, Diary, 22 July. At either end of the towne, upon the very carpet where the sports are celebrated.

1757.  Dyer, Fleece, I. 26. They … The close-wov’n carpet graze.

c. 1854.  Stanley, Sinai & Pal., ii. (1858), 122. The carpet of flowers described on the banks of the Chebar.

  4.  Short for carpet-moth; see 5.

1856.  R. Shield, Pract. Hints, 108. Those beautifully marked Geometræ called ‘carpets’ by collectors.

1859.  Stainton, Butterf. & Moths, II. 73. In the month of May the ‘Carpets’ enter on the scene.

1866.  E. Newman, Brit. Butterfl. & Moths, 64. The Satin Carpet … the Ringed Carpet.

  II.  In combination or attributively.

  5.  Comb. a. attributive (pertaining to a carpet, or made of carpet), as carpet-cloth, -shoe, -web, -work; b. objective, as carpet-beater, -beating, -dusting, -maker, planner; c. instrumental, as carpet-covered adj.; d. similative (resembling a carpet of smooth turf), as † carpet-grass, † -ground, † -hill, † -walk, † -way; also carpet-smooth, -woven adjs. Spec. combs. as carpet-bed (Gardening), a bed in which dwarf foliage-plants of different colors are arranged so as to form a pattern like that of a carpet; so carpet-bedding, -garden; carpet-broom, -brush, one used for sweeping a carpet; carpet-dance, a dance on the carpet, an informal dance (the carpet being taken up for dancing on great occasions); carpet-moth, a name for several species of Geometer moths, from their variegated coloring; carpet-rod, a metal rod to keep a stair-carpet in its place, a stair-rod; carpet-snake, a large Australian snake (Morelia variegata) with a variegated skin; see also quot. from Whitworth; carpet-weed, the genus Mollugo (N. O. Caryophyllaceæ). see also CARPET-BAG, -KNIGHT.

1836–7.  Dickens, Sk. Boz (1850), 44/1. A jobbing-man—*carpet-beater and so forth.

1883.  Pall Mall Gaz., 7 Sept., 4/1. The *‘carpet beds,’ where some intricate pattern is worked out in a variety of colours. Here no flower is allowed, the effect being due entirely to the colours of the leaves.

1615.  Churchw. Acc. Gt. Wigstone, Leicestersh. (Nichols, 1797), 149. New *Carpet-cloth for the communion table.

1835.  T. Hook, G. Gurney, I. v. 84. Hard *carpet-covered benches.

1861.  T. L. Peacock, Gryll Grange, xxiii. 198. On these occasions, it was of course a *carpet-dance.

1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr. (Hoppe). A well-conducted automaton to come and play quadrilles for a carpet-dance.

1756.  Mrs. Calderwood, Jrnl. (1884), 26. Fine *carpet-grass.

1677.  N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., V. (1706), 30. He will tread as boldly on Stones as on *Carpet-ground.

1759.  Dilworth, Pope, 144. An ambling muse running on a carpet-ground.

1732.  Mrs. Pendarves, in Mrs. Delaney’s Autobiog. (1861), I. 376. This house lies on the top of a *carpet hill.

c. 1500.  Cocke Lorell’s B. (1843), 9. Brouderers,… and *carpyte makers.

1863.  Trafford (Mrs. Riddell), World in Church, I. 90. Another corridor … reduced upholsterers and *carpet planners to despair.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, iii. She looked for one instant in his face, and then down at the *carpet rods.

1844.  Mrs. Browning, Lost Bower, xviii. *Carpet-smooth with grass and moss.

1863.  Wood, Nat. Hist., III. 115. The Diamond Snake … [and] The *Carpet Snake … are variable in their colouring.

1864.  Glasgow Herald, 15 April, 4/1. An enormous carpet snake, which, on being killed, was found to measure 12 feet 6 inches in length, and two feet in circumference.

1885.  G. C. Whitworth, Anglo-Ind. Dict., Carpet snake … Loosely applied to any kind of snake found in a dwelling house, other than a cobra or a dháman … most commonly the lycodon aulicus.

1664.  Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 201. Mow *Carpet-walks.

1664.  H. More, Myst. Iniq., 549. To keep rank and file … not to break order though all be not *Carpet-way.

a. 1658.  Cleveland, The Times, 31. We … Must not expect a Carpet way.

1884.  Browning, Ferishtah, 128. A *carpet-web I saw once leave the loom.

1611.  W. Barksted, Hiren (1876), 81. All the floore with *Carpet-worke was strawn.

1876.  Jane Austen, Emma, I. x. 72. If I give up music, I shall take up carpet-work.

1768.  Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1852), II. 414. The *carpet-woven grass that beautifies our lawns.

  6.  attrib. and Comb. arising out of sense 2 b. as carpet-consideration, courtship, friend, gentry, toy; † carpet-man, † carpet-monger, one who frequents ladies’ boudoirs or carpeted chambers, one who deals in ‘carpet-trade’; † carpet-trade, the occupations and amusements of the chamber or boudoir. Also CARPET-KNIGHT (q.v.), and many appellations akin to it (in which carpet implies haunting the chamber or boudoir), as carpet captain, champion (champion of the dames), coward, peer, shield, squire (= squire of dames), or modelled on it (with the sense of dilettantism, shirking of practical work, difficulty or danger), as carpet geologist, poet, soldier, etc.

1548.  Hall, Chron. (1809), 153. Like a *Carpet capitaine he … removed his Campe & fled to Crespy.

1623.  Cockeram, III. Paris, a Carpet Captaine, rather than a Warriour.

1600.  Fairfax, Tasso, XVI. xxxii. 286. A *Carpet champion for a wanton dame.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., III. iv. 258. He is knight dubb’d with vnhatch’d Rapier, and on *carpet consideration.

1636.  Massinger, Bashful Lover, I. i. You are not to be won By *carpet-courtship, but the sword.

1605.  Play Stucley, in Sch. Shaks. (1878), 201. I am a soldier And hate the name of *carpet-coward.

a. 1616.  Beaum. & Fl., Valent., IV. i. Have I lived Only to be a *carpet-friend, for pleasure?

1571.  Fortescue, Forest of Hist., 153 b. The daintie coward and *carpette man.

1599.  Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, Ded. Any other *carpet-munger or primerose knight of Primero. Ibid. (1592), P. Penilesse (N.). The … insinuating curtesie of a *carpet-peere.

1854.  Emerson, Lett. & Soc. Aims, Poet. & Imag., Wks. (Bohn), III. 167. Your *carpet poets, who are content to amuse.

1869.  Rawlinson, Anc. Hist., 470. No *carpet soldiers, but hardy troops.

1605.  Play Stucley, in Sch. Shaks. (1878), 188. I shall be thought … a coward, A sleepy dormouse, and a *carpet squire.

1660.  Waterhouse, Arms & Arm., 68. Adorned with rich Clothes, precious Jewels, and *Carpet toyes.

1581.  Rich, Farew. Milit. Prof. (N.). This noble duke had no maner of skill in carpet-trade.

  b.  Sometimes passing into an adjective.

a. 1639.  Ward, Serm., 119 (D.). Our strait-buttoned, carpet, and effeminate gentry.

1884.  St. James’s Gaz., 20 April, 4. The carpet markmanship which is the special fruit of Wimbledon.