Etymology Map
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Charpoy

3 stages from Persian to English.

Today it means a light bedstead of webbing on a wooden frame

Where does the word "charpoy" come from? It comes from Persian chahār-pāy, passing through Urdu before entering English (1840s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
chahār-pāy
Persian · medieval
"four-footed"
'four feet'
2
Stage 2 of 3
chārpāī
Urdu · medieval
"string bed"
the everyday string bed of South Asia
3
Stage 3 of 3
charpoy
English · 1840s
"string bed"
borrowed in British India
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Read the full story

Charpoy’s story begins in Persian: chahār-pāy meant “four-footed.” 'four feet'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Urdu as chārpāī. The everyday string bed of South Asia. It reached English by 1840s as charpoy. Borrowed in British India. Today, charpoy means a light bedstead of webbing on a wooden frame.