Counterpane.

A corruption of counterpoint, from the Latin cul cita (a wadded wrapper, a quilt). When the stitches were arranged in patterns it was called culʹcita puncta, which in French became courte-pointe, corrupted into contre-pointe, counter-point, where point is pronounced “poyn,” corrupted into “pane.”

previous entry · index · next entry

Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

Counsel
Count Kin with One (To)
Count not your Chickens
Count out the House (To)
Count Upon (To)
Countenance (To)
Counter-caster
Countercheck Quarrelsome (The)
Counterforts
Counter-jumper
Counterpane
Counterscarp
Countess di Civillari (The)
Country
Country-dance
Coup [coo]
Coup dEtat (French)
Coup de Grâce
Coup de Main (French)
Coup dŒil (French)
Coup de Pied de lAne (kick from the ass’s foot)