'duvet' originates from French, specifically the word 'duvet', where 'duve' meant 'down' (soft feathers).

'duvet' entered English from French in the late 18th century; it is a diminutive formation in French (duvet = small down), and the modern English word 'duvet' derives directly from that French form.

Initially, it referred to the down itself or a small amount of down; over time it came to mean the complete filled bed covering (a quilt filled with down or similar material).