Where does “closet” come from?
Closet comes from Middle English closet, from Old French closet, diminutive of Old French clos, from Latin clausus, past participle of claudere meaning to shut or close.
closet (English): Any private area, bowers in the open air; Any...
Definitions
- Any private area, bowers in the open air; Any...
Ancestry of “closet”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | closet | — |
| 2 | Old French | closet | small enclosed area, such as a field or a paddock |
| 3 | Old French | clos | enclosed outdoor area, such as a field or a... |
| 4 | Latin | clausus | closed, inaccessible; having been closed;... |
| 5 | Latin | claudere | present active infinitive of claudō;... |
| 6 | Latin | claudo | I shut, close, lock; I imprison, confine; I... |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | klaudō | close |