\Car"pet\ (k[aum]r"p[e^]t), n. [OF. carpite rug, soft of
cloth, F. carpette coarse packing cloth, rug (cf. It. carpita
rug, blanket), LL. carpeta, carpita, woolly cloths, fr. L.
carpere to pluck, to card (wool); cf. Gr. karpo`s fruit, E.
{Harvest}.]
1. A heavy woven or felted fabric, usually of wool, but also
   of cotton, hemp, straw, etc.; esp. a floor covering made
   in breadths to be sewed together and nailed to the floor,
   as distinguished from a rug or mat; originally, also, a
   wrought cover for tables.
         Tables and beds covered with copes instead of
         carpets and coverlets.                --T. Fuller.
2. A smooth soft covering resembling or suggesting a carpet.
   ``The grassy carpet of this plain.'' --Shak.
{Carpet beetle} or {Carpet bug} (Zo["o]l.), a small beetle
   ({Anthrenus scrophulari[ae]}), which, in the larval state,
   does great damage to carpets and other woolen goods; --
   also called {buffalo bug}.
{Carpet knight}.
   (a) A knight who enjoys ease and security, or luxury, and
       has not known the hardships of the field; a hero of
       the drawing room; an effeminate person. --Shak.
   (b) One made a knight, for some other than military
       distinction or service.
{Carpet moth} (Zo["o]l.), the larva of an insect which feeds
   on carpets and other woolen goods. There are several
   kinds. Some are the larv[ae] of species of {Tinea} (as {T.
   tapetzella}); others of beetles, esp. {Anthrenus}.
{Carpet snake} (Zo["o]l.), an Australian snake. See {Diamond
   snake}, under {Diamond}.
{Carpet sweeper}, an apparatus or device for sweeping
   carpets.
{To be on the carpet}, to be under consideration; to be the
   subject of deliberation; to be in sight; -- an expression
   derived from the use of carpets as table cover.
{Brussels carpet}. See under {Brussels}.

\Car"pet\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Carpeted}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Carpeting}.]
To cover with, or as with, a carpet; to spread with carpets;
to furnish with a carpet or carpets.
      Carpeted temples in fashionable squares. --E. Everett.

\ .
(a) [More fully chenille Axminster.] A variety of Turkey
    carpet, woven by machine or, when more than 27 inches
    wide, on a hand loom, and consisting of strips of worsted
    chenille so colored as to produce a pattern on a stout
    jute backing. It has a fine soft pile. So called from
    Axminster, England, where it was formerly (1755 -- 1835)
    made.
(b) A similar but cheaper machine-made carpet, resembling
    moquette in construction and appearance, but finer and of
    better material.