**Historical Uses of the Word ‘Closet’**:
– In Elizabethan and Middle English, ‘closet’ referred to a small private room for prayer, reading, or study.
– The use of ‘closet’ for toilet dates back to 1662.
– In Indian English, ‘closet’ continues to be used for toilet.
– Related forms include earth closet and water closet.
– ‘Privy’ meaning an outhouse derives from ‘private,’ connecting with the Middle English use of ‘closet.’
**Types of Closets**:
– Linen closet: A closet for storing linens.
– Broom closet: A closet for cleaning items.
– Coat closet: Used for storing coats and accessories.
– Custom closet: Tailored to the user’s needs.
– Pantry: Kitchen closet for food and provisions.
**Debate on Closet Absence in Colonial America**:
– Some claim colonial American houses lacked closets due to a closet tax by the British crown.
– Others argue that closets were absent because residents had few possessions.
**Closet Organizers**:
– Wire shelving: Moderately difficult to install and cheap.
– Wood shelving: Sturdier but harder to install and more expensive.
– Tube shelving: Easy to install with no cutting or measuring required.
**Related Concepts**:
– Cubby-hole: Name for the cupboard under the stairs.
The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (July 2007) |
A closet (especially in North American English usage) is an enclosed space, with a door, used for storage, particularly that of clothes. Fitted closets are built into the walls of the house so that they take up no apparent space in the room. Closets are often built under stairs, thereby using awkward space that would otherwise go unused.
A piece of furniture such as a cabinet or chest of drawers serves the same purpose of storage, but is not a closet, which is an architectural feature rather than a piece of furniture. A closet always has space for hanging, where a cupboard may consist only of shelves for folded garments. Wardrobe can refer to a free-standing piece of furniture (also known as an armoire), but according to the Oxford English Dictionary, a wardrobe can also be a "large cupboard or cabinet for storing clothes or other linen", including "built-in wardrobe, fitted wardrobe, walk-in wardrobe, etc."
Definition from ChatGPT:
Closet:
A closet is a small room or space used for storing clothes, shoes, and other personal items. It typically has shelves, racks, or hangers for organizing and storing clothing and accessories.