furniture

Where does the word "furniture" come from? It comes from Frankish *frumjan, passing through Middle French before entering English (1570s).

Furniture’s story begins in Frankish: *frumjan meant “to accomplish.” 'to carry out, accomplish'; Frankish settlers in Gaul left hundreds of words in French. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Middle French as fourniture. From fournir 'to furnish, supply'; in French it still means supplies or equipment, while furniture is meubles. It reached English by 1570s as furniture. Narrowed to movable household goods; Thomas Chippendale's pattern book The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director (1754) set fashions across Britain. Today, furniture means the movable articles such as tables, chairs and beds used in a room.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient *frumjan "to accomplish", 'to carry out, accomplish'; Frankish settlers in Gaul left hundreds of words in French.
2. Stage 2 · Middle French · 1500s fourniture "supplying, provisions", from fournir 'to furnish, supply'; in French it still means supplies or equipment, while furniture is meubles.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1570s furniture "tables, chairs, beds, etc.", narrowed to movable household goods; Thomas Chippendale's pattern book The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director (1754) set fashions across Britain.