carpet

[kahr-pit] /ˈkɑr pɪt/
noun
1.
a heavy fabric, commonly of wool or nylon, for covering floors.
2.
a covering of this material.
3.
any relatively soft surface or covering like a carpet:
They walked on the carpet of grass.
4.
any of a number of airborne electronic devices for jamming radar.
5.
a system of such devices.
verb (used with object)
6.
to cover or furnish with or as with a carpet.
7.
Chiefly British. to reprimand.
Idioms
8.
on the carpet,
  1. 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.
  2. Chiefly British. under consideration or discussion.
Origin
1300-50; Middle English carpete cloth covering for a table, floor, bed, etc. < Middle French carpite or Medieval Latin carpīta < Italian carpita woolen bedspread < Vulgar Latin *carpīta, past participle of carpīre, for Latin carpere to pluck, card (wool)
Related forms
carpetless, adjective
carpetlike, adjective
recarpet, verb (used with object)
uncarpeted, adjective
well-carpeted, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for on the carpet

carpet

/ˈkɑːpɪt/
noun
1.
  1. a heavy fabric for covering floors
  2. (as modifier): a carpet sale
2.
a covering like a carpet: a carpet of leaves
3.
(informal) on the carpet
  1. before authority to be reproved for misconduct or error
  2. under consideration
verb (transitive) -pets, -peting, -peted
4.
to cover with or as if with a carpet
5.
(informal) to reprimand
Word Origin
C14: from Old French carpite, from Old Italian carpita, from Late Latin carpeta, literally: (wool) that has been carded, from Latin carpere to pluck, card
Word Origin and History for on the carpet

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.

v.

"to cover with a carpet," 1620s, from carpet (n.). Meaning "call to reprimand" is from 1840. Related: Carpeted; carpeting.

Slang definitions & phrases for on the carpet

on the carpet

adverb phrase

In the situation of being reprimanded: Next time they caught him asleep he was on the carpet

[1899+; probably fr walk the carpet or carpet, ''reprimand, rebuke,'' found by 1823]


carpet

Related Terms

call someone on the carpet, on the carpet, red carpet, roll out the red carpet


Idioms and Phrases with on the carpet

on the carpet

see: call on the carpet

carpet

see:
also see under:
rug