the word 'wardrobe' has a literal origin in the practical storage of valuable garments. it entered english from old northern french 'warderobe', a compound of 'warder' (to guard, keep) and 'robe' (garment, robe). this french term itself descended from a germanic source for 'guard' (related to old english 'weard') and a latin source for 'garment' (from latin 'roba', meaning spoils, booty, then fine clothing). originally, a wardrobe was a room or large cupboard where robes and other valuable items were kept safe. over time, the meaning narrowed from the physical storage space to the cupboard itself and, by metonymy, to the collection of clothes it contains.

Structure: ward (guard) + robe (garment) ward: from old english 'weard' (a guard, watchman, protection), functioning as a root meaning 'to guard or keep'. robe: from old french 'robe' (a garment, robe), functioning as a root meaning 'a garment'.