duvet
UK[ˈduːveɪ]US[duːˈveɪ]
n
A thick, soft quilt filled with down, feathers, or a synthetic fiber, used instead of an upper sheet and blankets.
Etymology
The word 'duvet' entered English in the mid-18th century directly from French, where 'duvet' means 'down' (the soft under-feathers of a bird). The French term itself derives from the Old French 'dumet', a diminutive of 'dum', meaning 'down', which has its roots in Old Norse 'dúnn'. This etymological path highlights the word's core material origin. The modern English meaning, specifying a type of quilt filled with this material, developed through the commercial and cultural adoption of the continental European bedding style. Thus, the word's journey from a term for soft feathers to the name of a specific bed covering illustrates a classic metonymic shift.
Analysis
This word is a direct loanword from French. It is not productively segmented using English morphemes.
Examples
She pulled the fluffy duvet up to her chin on the cold winter night.
The hotel provided a lightweight duvet that was perfect for summer.
He bought a new duvet and a set of matching pillowcases.