Cabinet
/ˈkæb.ɪ.nɪt/noun
A small storage case or a group of top government advisers.
Did you know?The word came into English through French as a diminutive of *cabine*, and for centuries it could mean not just a piece of furniture but also a private chamber for secret meetings and collections of rare, almost magical curiosities.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
LL
capanna
“a hut or small shelter”
Old French
OF
cabane
“a hut or cabin”
Middle French
MF
cabinet
“a small hut, later a small room or private chamber”
16th Century
English
cabynet / cabinet
“a small private room; also a case for valuables or curiosities”
Modern English
English
cabinet
“a storage case; an executive council or advisory group”