ceiling: [14] Ceiling is something of a mystery word. It originally signified the internal lining of any part of a building, including walls as well as roof (the modern sense ‘overhead inside surface of a room’ began to crystallize out in the 16th century), and the material of which it was made took in wooden planks and even tapestry hangings, as well as plaster. But where it comes from is not at all clear.
It has no apparent relations in other modern European languages, and the likeliest candidate as a source may be Latin caelāre ‘carve, engrave’. This is perhaps endorsed by an item in the accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, 1497, revealing how a ‘carver’ was paid £2 14s for ‘the ceiling of the chapel’ – an indication that the underlying notion of ceiling may be ‘carved internal surface of a room’.
ceiling (n.)
mid-14c., celynge, "act of paneling a room," noun formed (with -ing) from Middle English verb ceil "put a cover or ceiling over," later "cover (walls) with wainscoting, panels, etc." (early 15c.); probably from Middle French celer "to conceal," also "cover with paneling" (12c.), from Latin celare (see cell). Probably influenced by Latin caelum "heaven, sky" (see celestial).
Extended to the paneling itself from late 14c. The meaning "top surface of a room" is attested by 1530s. Figurative sense "upper limit" is from 1934. Colloquial figurative phrase hit the ceiling "lose one's temper, get explosively angry" attested by 1908; earlier it meant "to fail" (by 1900, originally U.S. college slang). Glass ceiling in the figurative sense of "invisible barrier that prevents women from advancing" in management, etc., is attested from 1988.
双语例句
1. Flavell had accidentally discharged a pistol, firing it into the ceiling.
弗拉维尔不小心扳动了一把手枪的扳机，子弹射入了天花板。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The bullet slammed into the ceiling, spraying them with bits of plaster.
子弹砰地射进了天花板，掉落的石膏碎片落了他们一身。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Pinks and beiges were chosen to echo the colours of the ceiling.
选用了粉红色和米色，以跟从天花板的颜色。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Pigs were butchered, hams were hung to dry from the ceiling.
杀了猪，猪腿挂在天花板上风干。
来自柯林斯例句
5. The floor was level, but the ceiling sloped toward his head.
