When did this word cease to be a synonym for closet, and come to mean the individual contents thereof? This is a REAL "wardrobe malfunction," IMHO.

Cabinet is still the #1 sense for the word in MW. An individual's apparel is #3.

It's the main use in the UK; we only really use "closet" in "water closet". The "clothes" meaning was later. See http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=wardrobe

This message has been edited. Last edited by: arnie,

Water closet? Oh, that's where one keeps his diving suit. Curious how the "garde" became "warde," as the sounds don't match. Germanic influence, perhaps?

Curious how the "garde" became "warde," as the sounds don't match. Germanic influence, perhaps?

There's some cross pollination going on between French, English, and German and their respective orthographies. Many Germanic loanwords into French that begin with w- were rendered gu, e.g., war and guerre, waranty and guarantee, ward and guard.