What is a Carpet?

What is a Carpet?

A carpet is a textile floorcovering composed of an upper layer of "pile" attached with a backing. The pile is normally either constructed from wool or a synthetic fiber like polypropylene, and often is made up of twisted tufts which are generally heat-treated to hold their shape.

The word "Carpet" comes from Old Italian carpita, "carpire" which means to pluck. The word "carpet" can be used exchangeably with the term "rug." However, they are certainly not the same. A carpet extends from wall-to-wall whereas a rug doesn't. Only with the launching of trade routes in the 17th century were substantial quantities of Persian rugs brought to Western Europe. In the past the term has also been used in table and wall covers, because carpets are not widely used on the floor in Western interiors before 18th century.