A person whose job is to build and repair wooden structures, such as houses, furniture, and frames.
From Old French 'carpentier', from Latin 'carpentarius', meaning 'wagon-maker', from 'carpentum', a two-wheeled carriage. The trade shifted from building vehicles to all kinds of woodwork.
Originally, a carpenter was specifically a wagon-builder; the job was about making vehicles, not just walls and tables. The word shows how a specialist craft for transport grew into the general art of shaping wood.
Carpentry has traditionally been coded as a male trade in many societies, and language about carpenters has often assumed male workers by default. Women and gender-diverse carpenters have frequently been overlooked or treated as exceptions.
Use 'carpenter' as a gender-neutral occupation term, and avoid assuming pronouns or using gendered job titles. In examples, include carpenters of varied genders to counter the male-default stereotype.
["woodworker","joiner","builder"]
Women carpenters and woodworkers have contributed to construction, design, and furniture-making, often facing exclusion from formal apprenticeships and unions. Highlighting their work helps correct the historical record of the trades.
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