early 14c.,warde-robe, "room or large closet where wearing apparel is kept," earlier "a private chamber" (c. 1300), from Old North Frenchwarderobe,wardereube (Old Frenchgarderobe) "dressing-room, place where garments are kept," fromwarder "to keep, guard" (seewarder (n.)) +robe "garment" (seerobe (n.)).

The meaning "a person's stock of clothes for wearing" is recorded from c. 1400. As an item of furniture, "movable closed cupboard for wearing apparel," it is recorded from 1794. The specific meaning "room in which theatrical costumes are kept" is attested from 1711. Euphemisticwardrobe malfunction is attested from 2004. Middle Englishwardrober "official in charge of the wardrobe of a royal or noble house" is by late 13c. as a surname.

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "perceive, watch out for."

It might form all or part of:Arcturus;avant-garde;award;aware;beware;Edward;ephor;garderobe;guard;hardware;irreverence;lord;panorama;pylorus;rearward;regard;revere;reverence;reverend;reward;software;steward;vanguard;ward;warden;warder;wardrobe;ware (n.) "manufactured goods, goods for sale;"ware (v.) "to take heed of, beware;"warehouse;wary.

It might also be the source of: Latinvereri "to observe with awe, revere, respect, fear;" Greekouros "a guard, watchman,"horan "to see;" Hittitewerite- "to see;" Old Englishweard "a guarding, protection; watchman, sentry, keeper."