Cupboard
/ˈkʌb.əd/noun
A piece of furniture with shelves or drawers for storing dishes, food, or other items.
Did you know?Cupboard is a classic example of sound erosion: the original two-word phrase was squeezed down in speech until the hidden 'board' disappeared, leaving a word that looks like it should be spelled exactly as it sounds.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
cuppe
“cup, drinking vessel”
Old English
OE
bord
“plank, table, flat surface”
Middle English
ME
cupbord
“a board or shelf for cups and dishes”
15th–16th Century
English
cupboard
“a storage shelf or cabinet for tableware”
Modern English
English
cupboard
“a cabinet or closet for storage”