carpenter

Definitions

From Latin carpentum, a two-wheeled carriage (from carrus). A carpentarius was originally a cartwright — a wagon-maker. The trade broadened from building carts to building anything in wood. A surprising relative of car.

Why It Means This

Carpenter hides a cart inside it. The Latin carpentum was a wagon, and a carpentarius was the man who built wagons. As wagon-building was the most demanding woodwork around, the word drifted to mean any skilled woodworker — and the original cart was forgotten.

Common Collocations

• 1.skilled carpenter熟练的木匠
• 2.master carpenter木匠大师
• 3.carpenter's tools木工工具

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The carpenter built a sturdy oak table.

• 2.

  She hired a skilled carpenter to fix the stairs.