parquet

noun

1. a floor composed of short strips or blocks of wood forming a pattern, sometimes with inlays of other woods or other materials.
2. the part of the main floor of a theater, opera house, etc., that is between the musicians’ area and the parterre or rear division or, especially in the U.S., the entire floor space for spectators.

verb (used with object), par·queted [pahr-keyd] /pɑrˈkeɪd/, par·quet·ing [pahr-key-ing] /pɑrˈkeɪ ɪŋ/.

3. to construct (a floor) of parquetry.

noun

1. a floor covering of pieces of hardwood fitted in a decorative pattern; parquetry
2. Also called: parquet floor a floor so covered
3. US the stalls of a theatre
4. the main part of the Paris Bourse, where officially listed securities are tradedCompare coulisse (def. 3)
5. (in France) the department of government responsible for the prosecution of crimes

verb (tr)

6. to cover (a floor) with parquet

n.1816, “patterned wooden flooring,” from French parquet “wooden flooring; enclosed portion of a park,” from Old French parchet (14c.) “small compartment, part of a park or theater,” diminutive of parc (see park (n.)). Meaning “part of a theater auditorium at the front of the ground floor” is first recorded 1848. The noun use in English has been influenced by the verb (attested from 1640s, from French parqueter. Related: Parquetry