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tapestry

Etymology and origin of the English word tapestry

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈtæpəstɹi/[1]

Etymology

It comes from Middle English tapiceri, tapstri,[2][3][4] from Middle French tapisserie,[2][3][5][4] from tapisser “to cover with heavy fabric”,[2][3][5] from tapis “heavy fabric, carpet”,[2][3][5][6] from Ancient Greek ταπήτιον (tapḗtion), a diminutive of tápēs “carpet, heavy fabric”.[2][3][5][6] The Greek word is perhaps of Iranian origin,[2][3][5] though Etymonline notes that Beekes takes it to be Pre-Greek.[5] The -t- in the middle of the English word is unetymological.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

A heavy fabric with pictures or designs woven into it, used for hangings (1397 as tapiestre in Barnhart; 1434 in the OED).[3][7]

Semantic evolution

A figurative use for something of rich, intricate design is recorded from 1581.[3][7][5] The verb, to hang or adorn with tapestry, appeared about 1630,[3][7] and the sense to depict in tapestry in 1814.[3][7] In modern use the word is often applied to canvas embroidery worked in wool.[7][6]

Timeline

  • 1388 – tapicery, the heavy decorated fabric.[3]
  • 1397 – tapiestre.[3]
  • 1581 – figurative use.[3][7]
  • about 1630 – verb, to cover or hang with tapestry.[3][7]
  • 1814 – verb, to depict in tapestry.[3][7]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A heavy cloth woven by hand with pictures or designs, used as a wall hanging or to cover furniture.
  2. A machine-woven imitation of this, used for upholstery.
  3. Embroidery on canvas that resembles woven tapestry.
  4. Something with a rich and intricate variety of detail.

Verb

  1. To hang, cover or decorate with tapestry.
  2. To weave or depict in a tapestry.

Word family

  • tapestrylike
  • tapetum
  • tapis
  • taffeta
  • carpet

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  4. ^ a b Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Tapestry.” Etymologically, 11 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/tapestry. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·