On The Carpet Origin
The definition then elaborates with the related idiom.
On the carpet origin. From pie root kerp to gather pluck harvest. The pazyryk carpet which was excavated from a burial mound in 1947 was an incredible find at the time as it was a nearly 2 500 year old carpet that was largely intact due to its being frozen in a block of ice. The online etymology dictionary states that the term carpet was first used in english in the late 13th century with the meaning coarse cloth and by the mid 14th century tablecloth or bedspread. To be called on the carpet i e.
The entry is actually for carpet used as a verb meaning to summon for the purpose of enquiry or reprimand a usage that the oxford dictionary of idioms dates to the mid 1800s. Carpet n late 13c coarse cloth mid 14c tablecloth bedspread from old french carpite heavy decorated cloth a carpet modern french carpette from medieval latin or old italian carpita thick woolen cloth probably from latin carpere to card pluck and so called because it was made from unraveled shredded plucked fabric. To be called on the carpet is equivalent to receiving a scolding the metaphor being taken from a servant. The definition then elaborates with the related idiom.
To be called on the carpet is equivalent to receiving a scolding the metaphor being taken from a servant. For reprimand by superior is early 1900 s american colloquial possible from one s uncarpeted work area to carpeted offices of one s superior.