As a noun, it is the place where two lines, edges, or streets meet. As a verb, it can mean to trap someone so they cannot escape, or to gain control of a market.
From Old French *corniere*, from Latin *cornu* 'horn', used metaphorically for projecting points and angles. It came to describe the pointed meeting of walls or roads.
The idea of a 'horn' sticking out became our word for sharp angles and edges—corners. To 'corner the market' means you’ve pushed everyone else out into the walls and taken the best spot. Even emotionally, feeling 'cornered' captures that sense of having no easy way out.
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