On the carpet/Carpeted

Today we think of a carpet exclusively as a floor covering or figuratively as a covering resembling a carpet e.g. a carpet of snow, but during the 17th and 18th centuries, a carpet could also mean a bed or tablecloth. Typically, there would be a carpet (tablecloth) on the council or board table and from the late 17th century ‘on the carpet’ meant ‘on the table’ or ‘under consideration’. It was only from the early 19th century that ‘on the carpet’ or being ‘carpeted’ took on the meaning of a reprimand or disciplinary hearing. By this time, most room and office floors had carpets upon which miscreants would stand to learn of their punishment or fate.