cabinet English · revision 4796

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1549|origins=frm cabinet}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkæb.ɪ.nət/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|cabinet|t=small room]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a diminutive of Old Picard cabine “gambling house”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) a variant of Old French cabane, the source of [[cabin]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It was perhaps influenced by Italian gabbinetto,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a diminutive of gabbia “cage”, from Latin cavea, the source of [[cage]].^(Etymonline) The NODE and Hoad suggest an English formation from cabin and [[-et]] after the French word,^(NODE 1998)^(Hoad 1986) but Barnhart limits that formation to the sense “little hut” (1572).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A secret storehouse or treasure chamber, and a case for keeping valuables: 1549 in the OED and Barnhart, the 1540s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A small private room is from 1565,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) and a little hut or soldier's tent from 1572.^(OED 1989) A room for displaying works of art and curiosities is from 1676 (the 1670s in Etymonline).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The case for papers or valuables gradually became a piece of furniture with shelves and drawers.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) The private room where a monarch's advisers met (about 1600) gave the political sense, an executive council of ministers, from the 1640s,^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) perhaps short for ''cabinet council'' (1620s).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1549 – a secret store; a case for valuables.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1565 – a private room.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1620s – ''cabinet council''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1640s – a council of ministers.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1676 – a room for displaying art.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A piece of [[furniture]] with shelves, doors or drawers for storing or displaying things.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The group of senior [[minister]]s who lead a government, or advise a head of state.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A small private room.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cabinetful]]

+ * [[cabineteer]]

+ * [[cabinetmaker]]

+ * [[cabinetmaking]]

+ * [[cabinetry]]

+ * [[cabinetwork]]

+ * [[subcabinet]]

+ * [[supercabinet]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cabin]]

+ * [[cage]]

+ * [[cave]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}