cupboard

Meanings

Noun

• A board or table used to openly hold and display silver plate and other dishware; a sideboard; a buffet.
• Things displayed on a sideboard; dishware, particularly valuable plate.
• A cabinet, closet, or other piece of furniture with shelves intended for storing cookware, dishware, or food; similar cabinets or closets used for storing other items.
• Things stored in a cupboard; particularly food.

Verb

• To collect, as into a cupboard; to hoard.

Related

Similar words

• see sideboard
• see pantry, larder

Broader meaning words

• see closet
• see cabinet
• press , wardrobe , closet

Origin

• Inherited from Middle English cuppeborde, cupbord. Equivalent to cup + board. Phonetic variants show that the /p/ in the original forms had assimilated to the present-day /b/ by the 16th century; the etymological spelling has, however, dominated from the 18th century.