from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Carpet \Car"pet\ (k[aum]r"p[e^]t), n. [OF. carpite rug, soft of
cloth, F. carpette coarse packing cloth, rug (cf. It. carpita
rug, blanket), LL. carpeta, carpita, woolly cloths, fr. L.
carpere to pluck, to card (wool); cf. Gr. karpo`s fruit, E.
{Harvest}.]
1. A heavy woven or felted fabric, usually of wool, but also
of cotton, hemp, straw, etc.; esp. a floor covering made
in breadths to be sewed together and nailed to the floor,
as distinguished from a rug or mat; originally, also, a
wrought cover for tables.
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Tables and beds covered with copes instead of
carpets and coverlets. --T. Fuller.
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2. A smooth soft covering resembling or suggesting a carpet.
"The grassy carpet of this plain." --Shak.
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{Carpet beetle} or {Carpet bug} (Zool.), a small beetle
({Anthrenus scrophulari[ae]}), which, in the larval state,
does great damage to carpets and other woolen goods; --
also called {buffalo bug}.
{Carpet knight}.
(a) A knight who enjoys ease and security, or luxury, and
has not known the hardships of the field; a hero of
the drawing room; an effeminate person. --Shak.
(b) One made a knight, for some other than military
distinction or service.
{Carpet moth} (Zool.), the larva of an insect which feeds on
carpets and other woolen goods. There are several kinds.
Some are the larv[ae] of species of {Tinea} (as {Tinea
tapetzella}); others of beetles, esp. {Anthrenus}.
{Carpet snake} (Zool.), an Australian snake. See {Diamond
snake}, under {Diamond}.
{Carpet sweeper}, an apparatus or device for sweeping
carpets.
{To be on the carpet}, to be under consideration; to be the
subject of deliberation; to be in sight; -- an expression
derived from the use of carpets as table cover.
{Brussels carpet}. See under {Brussels}.
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