In medieval French, a diminutive form of nape, meaning “tablecloth,” was naperon, which referred to a small cloth that is placed over a more elegant tablecloth to protect it from stains. This word appears in English of the 14th century as napron and also denoted a protective cloth, but one that was placed over clothing rather than on a table. Because in speech it is often difficult to tell where word boundaries fall, a napron was incorrectly understood to be an apron. The new form apron effectively replaced napron by the 17th century, which completely obscured the etymological relation of apron to napkin, the name of another protective cloth.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebFinally hanging up his apron, Lewis has had a blast with the restaurant that quickly became synonymous with Alabama football. Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 2022 The Sixers would also have to be mindful of the $157.0 million luxury-tax apron while discussing a Durant trade. Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 Its apron is dotted with tables and umbrellas, and populated by the grooms, trainers and owners who have dedicated their lives to horses and by the enthusiasts and retirees who can afford to while away a weekday afternoon.New York Times, 9 June 2022 Turn the crab over and remove its apron, or underside. Ann Maloney, Washington Post, 7 June 2022 Instead of an apron, the actress opted for a flowy, floral gown designed by Celine. Chaise Sanders, Country Living, 6 Aug. 2022 Upload their masterpieces to receive a custom embroidered apron in just a few day's time. Alyssa Gautieri, Good Housekeeping, 12 Aug. 2022 Lorain Road, to replace the concrete driveway and apron.cleveland, 7 Aug. 2022 As for the apron, any team who could get Ayton in a sign-and-trade can't surpass the 2022-23 season’s luxury tax threshold set at $150.26 million in salary immediately after or anytime following the trade. Dana Scott, USA TODAY, 5 July 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English apron, aperon, alteration (by misdivision of a napron as an apron) of naproun, naperon, napron, borrowed from Anglo-French naperoun "napkin for drying one's hands," earlier Latinized as napero, naperona "cloth to cover a table or other surface, towel, apron," from nape "tablecloth" (going back to Vulgar Latin *nappa, by dissimilation from Latin mappa "piece of cloth used as a towel or napkin") + -eron, diminutive suffix — more at map entry 1, aileron
Note: Although modern French retains the word napperon in the sense "protective piece of cloth, as a table mat, placed on a piece of furniture," the diversification in sense that led to "apron" in English appears to have taken place only in Anglo-French. The Middle English Dictionary records naproun, naperon, etc., only in the sense "apron," according to the judgment of the editors, but nearly all the citations are from payment records or inventories that appear to reveal little about the meaning of the word. The Anglo-Norman Dictionary has a single citation for naperoun, from a courtesy manual of ca. 1430, where it means something like "napkin": "Sur le naperoun voz mains suetz, Ne frotez voz gencies" ("Wipe your hands on the naperoun, don't rub your gums"). Continental evidence for the word apparently does not extend before the fourteenth century. The Anglo-French word is demonstrably earlier, however. The Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources first records naperon in the English Close Rolls as something for which cloth was required in 1215. An entry for 1274 in the household book of Henry, son of Edward I, registers payment for canvas cloth purchased "for covering garments of the same and for naperones in the kitchen" ("pro x ulnis canubie emptis ad cooperiendas robas eorundem et ad naperones in coquina"). Here the word naperones clearly points to a kind of apron. This use is confirmed by a passage from the Exchequer's accounts for 1313: "for canvas purchased for napron' made to preserve the falconers' clothes while they feed the falcons" ("pro canabo empto pro napron' faciend' pro salvacione pannorum falconariorum in pascendo falcones").