Etymology Map
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Furniture

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means the movable articles such as tables, chairs and beds used in a room

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
*frumjan
Frankish · ancient
"to accomplish"
'to carry out, accomplish'; Frankish settlers in Gaul left hundreds of words in French
2
Stage 2 of 3
fourniture
Middle French · 1500s
"supplying, provisions"
from fournir 'to furnish, supply'; in French it still means supplies or equipment, while furniture is meubles
3
Stage 3 of 3
furniture
English · 1570s
"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
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Read the full story

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.