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Origin and history of wrap

wrap(v.)

early 14c., wrappen, "roll or fold together; envelop, surround; cover and fasten securely, swaddle; fold (something) up or back on itself," a word of uncertain origin.

Perhaps (Watkins) via Scandinavian (compare Danish dialectal vravle "to wind"), from PIE *werp- "to turn, wind," from root *wer- (2) "to turn, bend." Or perhaps a variant of lap (v.2).

Related: Wrapped; wrapping.

wrap(n.)

late 15c., wrappe, "wrapper or covering," specifically "fine cloth used as a cover or wrapping for bread;" from wrap (v.).

In reference to various types of women's garments, it is attested by 1827; as a cover or blanket to be worn about the person, by 1861.

The meaning "plastic film or cellophane used as a wrap" is from 1930. The meaning "end of a filming session" is attested from 1970 (compare wrap-up). The meaning "sandwich material folded up in a flour tortilla" is by 1998.

The figurative phrase under wraps "in concealment" is recorded from 1939.

also from late 15c.

Entries linking to wrap

lap(v.2)

early 14c., "to surround (something with something else)," from lap (n.1). Figurative use, "to envelop (in love, sin, desire, etc.)" is from mid-14c. Meaning "lay one part over another, lay in such a way as to cover part of something underneath" is from c. 1600. The sense of "to get a lap ahead (of a competitor) on a track" is from 1847, on notion of "overlapping" (see lap (n.2)). Related: Lapped; lapping.

wrapping(n.)

late 14c., "something used for rolling or folding together or enveloping;" mid-15c., "action of wrapping;" verbal noun from wrap (v.). Wrapping-paper is attested by 1715.

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Trends of wrap

adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/ with a 7-year moving average; ngrams are probably unreliable.

More to explore

wind
"air in motion," Old English wind "wind," from Proto-Germanic *winda- (source also of Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Middle Dutch, Dutch wind, Old Norse vindr, Old High German wind, German Wind, Gothic winds), from PIE *wē-nt-o‑ "blowing," suffixed (participial) form of root *we- "to bl
roll
c. 1200, rolle, "rolled-up piece of parchment or paper, scroll" (especially one inscribed with an official record), from Old French rolle "document, parchment scroll, decree" (12c.), Medieval Latin rotulus "a roll of paper" (source also of Spanish rollo, Italian rullo), from Lati
envelop
late 14c., envolupen, "be involved" (in sin, crime, etc.), from Old French envoleper, envoluper "envelop, cover; fold up, wrap up" (10c., Modern French envelopper), from en- "in" (see en- (1)) + voloper "wrap up," which is of uncertain origin, perhaps Celtic (see Gamillscheg, Die
muffle
early 15c., "to cover or wrap (something) to conceal or protect," perhaps from Old French moufle "thick glove, mitten;" see...The meaning "wrap something up to deaden sound" is recorded by 1761. Related: Muffled; muffling....
shrink
Shrink-wrap "clingy thin plastic film" used in food packaging is attested from 1961 (shrinking-wrap is by 1959)....
manta
from Spanish manta "blanket" (which is attested in English from 1748 in this sense, specifically in reference to a type of wrap...
boa
Extension to "snake-like wrap of fur worn around the throat" is from 1836....
loop
late 14c., "a fold or doubling of cloth, rope, leather, cord, etc.," of uncertain origin. OED favors a Celtic origin (compare Gaelic lub "bend," Irish lubiam), which in English was perhaps influenced by or blended with Old Norse hlaup "a leap, run" (see leap (v.)). As a feature o
polo
ball game of eastern origin resembling field hockey played on horseback, 1872, Anglo-Indian polo, from Balti (Tibetan language of the Indus valley) polo "ball," related to Tibetan pulu "ball." An ancient game in south Asia, first played in England at Aldershot, 1871. Water polo i
pool
"small body of standing water," Old English pol "small body of water; deep, still place in a stream," from Proto-West Germanic *pōl- (source also of Old Frisian and Middle Low German pol, Dutch poel, Old High German pfuol, German Pfuhl "pool, puddle"), which is of uncertain origi

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Dictionary entries near wrap
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