red carpet

[Baker, John]

        If you are referring to the figurative term meaning a ceremonial
welcome or lavish reception, it derives from the practice of laying down a
red carpet on formal occasions to greet important visitors.  I don't know
how long that's been common, but the OED has a 1905 quotation from the
Westminster Gazette:  "There were waiting on the red-carpeted platform . . .
officials representing the railway company."

John Baker


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Leo [SMTP:LY053421 at ONLINE.SH.CN]
> Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2001 8:33 AM
> To:   ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject:      red carpet
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> Does anybody there know the etymology of "red carpet"?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Gao Yongwei
> Fudan University,
> China
>