armoire

English

Alternative forms

• armoir (dated)

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French armoire. Doublet of ambry, armarium, and almirah.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɑːmˈwɑː/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɑɹmˈwɑɹ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)

Noun

armoire (plural armoires)

1. A type of cupboard, cabinet, or wardrobe - originally used for storing weapons.
   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:armoire.

Derived terms

• jewellery armoire

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French armaire, aumaire, borrowed from Latin armārium, from arma (“weapons, tools”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aʁ.mwaʁ/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

armoire f (plural armoires)

1. wardrobe (British), closet (US), a cabinet, taller than it is wide, for storing things.
2. (colloquial) a very stocky man

Derived terms

• armoire à glace
• armoire à pharmacie

Descendants

• Louisiana Creole: larmwa (via le armoire)
• Seychellois Creole: larmwar (via le armoire)
• → English: armoire
• Sicilian: armuarra, muarra

Further reading

• “armoire”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.