Etymology

charpie

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Today it means: Straight threads obtained by unraveling old linen cloth, used for surgical dressings. Full definition →

Old French charpir ← Latin carpō
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The story

  1. Latin · derived fromcarpō“to pluck”
  2. Old French · derived fromcharpir“to pluck”
  3. English todaycharpie

From the feminine past participle of Old French charpir (“to pluck”), carpir (“to pluck”), from Latin carpō (“to pluck”). Compare carpet.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.