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