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Origin and history of shop

shop(n.)

c. 1300, "booth or shed for trade or work," perhaps from Old English scoppa, a rare word of uncertain meaning, apparently related to scypen "cowshed," from Proto-Germanic *skoppan "small additional structure" (source also of Old High German scopf "building without walls, porch," German dialectal Scopf "porch, cart-shed, barn," German Schuppen "a shed"), from a root *skupp-. Or the Middle English word was acquired from Old French eschoppe "booth, stall" (Modern French échoppe), which is a Germanic loan-word from the same root.

The meaning "building or room set aside for sale of merchandise" is from mid-14c. The meaning "schoolroom equipped for teaching vocational arts" is from 1914, American English (as in shop class, attested by 1948).

The sense of "one's own business, craft, or calling" is from 1814, as in talk shop (v.), "converse in general society about matters pertaining to one's trade," which is attested in this sense by 1847. Shop-talk (n.) is by 1881.

Lawyers, I am happy to say, seldom talk shop to each other. I have a notion that if they did, they would mutually send each other small bills for opinion and advice given ; and then go into court to have a fair stand-up battle for the thirteen-and-four-pences. [Angus B. Reach, "The Natural History of Humbugs," 1847]

also from c. 1300

shop(v.)

1680s, "to bring something to a shop, to expose for sale," from shop (n.). The meaning "to visit shops for the purpose of examining or purchasing goods" is attested by 1764. Related: Shopped; shopping. Shop around "seek alternatives before choosing" is from 1922.

also from 1680s

Entries linking to shop

shopping(n.)

1764, "the act or practice of visiting shops for the purpose of examining and purchasing goods," a verbal noun from shop (v.). The meaning "goods that have been purchased" is attested by 1934.

Shopping bag is attested from 1864; shopping cart by 1929. Shopping list, of purchases to be made or stores to be visited, is by 1874; transferred and figurative use is by 1959. The modern shopping center is attested by 1922 in reference to the shopping district in a city (New York's upper Fifth Avenue); by 1926 in reference to planned outlying commercial developments. Shopping day "day in which stores are open" is by 1859; specifically in advertisements announcing the time remaining to purchase Christmas gifts, by 1881.

Twenty-One Days Only and Christmas will be here. Deduct Three (Sundays) leaves Eighteen Shopping Days. Again deduct Six Days (the last) monopolized by the Grand Army of Put-Offs, leaves but 12 DAYS in which Common-Sense Customers may buy their Holiday Gifts in Comfort, Convenience and Pleasure. [from an advertisement for Rosenbaum's store, Philadelphia Times, Dec. 4, 1881]

barber-shop(n.)

also barbershop, 1570s, from barber + shop (n.). Earlier in same sense was barbery (c. 1500). Barber-shop in reference to close harmony male vocal quartets is attested from 1910; the custom of barbers keeping a musical instrument in their shops so waiting customers could entertain themselves is an old one, but the musical product formerly had a low reputation and barber's music (c. 1660) was "wretched, poorly performed music."