bureau

Where does the word "bureau" come from? It comes from Old French bure, passing through French before entering English (1700s).

Bureau’s story begins in Old French: bure meant “a coarse wool cloth.” A coarse wool cloth used to cover writing desks. By medieval, the word had taken hold in French as bureau. Extended from the cloth to the desk, then the office itself. It reached English by 1700s as bureau. From 'bure', a coarse cloth used to cover desks, then the desk, then the office. Today, bureau means a government department or agency, or a chest of drawers.

1. Stage 1 · Old French · medieval bure "a coarse wool cloth", a coarse wool cloth used to cover writing desks.
2. Stage 2 · French · medieval bureau "a writing desk; an office", extended from the cloth to the desk, then the office itself.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1700s bureau "a government department or office; a chest of drawers", from 'bure', a coarse cloth used to cover desks, then the desk, then the office.