Carpentry

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkɑː.pɪn.tri/

Definitions

1. The skilled trade of cutting, shaping, and installing wooden structures and fixtures in buildings
2. The craft that involves constructing, installing, and repairing structures made of wood, as well as producing furniture and other wooden items
3. A profession focused on the design, assembly, and maintenance of wooden constructions and fixtures, often seen in buildings and furniture
4. The craft of constructing, repairing, and installing wooden objects and structures involves techniques specific to both aesthetic and functional design
5. This specialized trade encompasses the art and science of shaping wood to create functional items and architectural features

Etymology: Carpentry is a word that passed through French before reaching English, and the French form itself carried the trade's name with it. The Middle English "carpentrie" was borrowed from Anglo-Norman "carpenterie", which in turn came from Old Northern French, where the closely related French "charpenterie" still names the same craft. The root behind it is the noun "carpenter", the person who works the timber, so the suffix "-rie" does the same job it does in other trade words: it names the craft or workshop rather than the worker. Because the word arrived through Anglo-Norman, its spelling and sound tell the story of that route. Medieval English had a native word for the trade, but the French-derived term gradually took its place for the skilled practice itself, while "carpenter" kept its hold on the person. The pairing of a worker noun with a "-ry" noun for his trade is a pattern English borrowed widely from French.

Synonyms: joinery, woodwork