Obs. (exc. Hist.). Forms: 1 tęped, tæpped, tæppet; 3–4 (9) tapit, 4–5 tapyt, 4–6 tapite, -yte, -ete (also 9), 5 tapytt, -e, (tepit), 5–6 tapett, -e, tappet, 6 -ett, -e, Sc. tapeit, taphet, 4– tapet. (The OE. tęped was WGer. ad. late L. tapētum: cf. OHG. tęppid, tęppith (more usually tęppih, Ger. teppich). The later OE. tæpped, -et (cf. also MLG. teppet) may have been re-influenced by Latin. ME. tapet, tapit, etc. perh. came down from OE.; but the word may have been introduced anew in 13th c. from L., or from Prov. tapit or other Romanic form: cf. MDu. tapijt, and see TAPIS.] A piece of figured cloth used as a hanging, table-cover, carpet, or the like.
a. 900. Kentish Glosses, in Wr.-Wülcker, 61/1. Tapetibus pictis, ȝemetum tepedum.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 152/1. Sipla, an healf hruh tæppet.
c. 1050. in Thorpe, Charters (1865), 429. VII ofbrædelsas and II tæppedu.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11240. Was þar na pride o couerled [v.r. couerlite] Chamber curtin ne tapit [v.rr. -ite, -yte].
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 858. Tapytez tyȝt to þe woȝe, of tuly & tars, & vnder fete, on þe flet, of folȝande sute.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Sam. xvii. 28. Couerynge clothis, and tapetis [1388 tapitis].
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. lxii. (Bodl. MS.). The flesche þat lieþ in þe vtter parties of bones … is as it were a nedeful tapet and esement.
1425. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 298/1. Þere was on a nyght [a man] taken by hynd a tapet in ye said Chambre.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 97 b. Medea … brought him into the chambre where they satte vpon a moche riche tapyte.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, I. xi. 8. Amang prowde tapeitis and miche riche apparale Hir place sche tuik.
a. 1562. G. Cavendish, Wolsey (1893), 227. Leanyng ayenst the tappett or hangyng of the chamber.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. v. 35. 4. tapites floured, of pinsed satten.
1591. Spenser, Muiopotmos, 276. Each doth chuse What storie she will for her tapet take.
[1859. Parker, Turner’s Dom. Archit., III. iv. 104. The bed … consisted of a selour, a testor, a counterpoint, six tapits of arras [etc.].
1875. Pollen, Anc. & Mod. Furn., 31. Carpets, tapete, blankets, or other woollen coverlids for sofas or beds, were made at Corinth.]
b. In figurative and allusive uses: cf. CARPET sb. 2 b and 3.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 246. Summe ladies ben menys to haue a daunsere, a trippere on tapitis, or huntere or haukere.
c. 1430. Lydg., Compl. Bl. Knt., 51. The soyle was … oversprad with tapites that Nature Had made her selfe.
c. 1470. Harding, Chron. CXV. vii. (MS. Ashm. 34), lf. 90. God sette neuer Kynge to be a Ryotoure To trippe on tapites and leue in Idilnesse.
1563. Mirr. Mag., Induct. i. The gladsom groves that nowe laye overthrowen The tapets torn, and every blome down blowen.
c. attrib. † Tapet-hook, a hook for hanging ‘tapets’ or tapestry-hangings to the wall.
1480. Wardr. Acc. Edw. IV. (1830), 121. Crochetts and tapethooks for the hangyng of the same verdours.
