Tapestry
/ˈtæp.ə.stri/noun
A heavy woven fabric, often pictorial, used for wall hangings or decoration.
Did you know?The word comes through Old French from medieval Latin tapetum, ultimately from Greek tapēs/tapētos, meaning a carpet or rug—proof that some of the most “mystical” words began as ordinary woven objects.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*teh₂-
“to spread, stretch out”
Ancient Greek
Greek
tapēs, tapētos
“a carpet, rug, or covering”
Late Latin
Latin
tapetum
“a carpet or hanging cloth”
Old French
Old French
tapisserie
“a woven hanging or tapestry”
Middle English
English
tapestrie
“a decorative hanging of woven cloth”
Modern English
English
tapestry
“a decorative woven wall hanging or textile picture”