Where does the word APRON come from?

[Jenny1975]

Why is it that an apron is something you tie around your waist but it is also the place where planes park up outside terminal buildings at airports?  Where does the word APRON come from and why is it used in both ways?

[rooftrouser]

The word derives from Old French "naperon" via a misdivision of the Middle English "a napron" which thus became "an apron". This doesn't help with the airport useage though, or with a number of other variations, such as the area in front of a stage in a theatre. It may simply be that the original airport apron resembled an actual apron in shape or because it was in front or covered/protected the ground. just guessing that part - sorry.

[Quizmonster]

It is largely to do with shape. In Shakespeare's day the apron stage extended well out into the area occupied by the audience, so that they surrounded it on three sides. Looking down on it from above, you can see that it is apron-shaped...ie basically a square with the two sides of the main stage representing the apron-strings/ties in terms of a 'real' apron. The same applied to the original airport aprons, in that they were basically squares of concrete outside terminals with the taxiways representing the apron-strings on top of the grass of the field.

[Jenny1975]

Thank you both for your replies.  My father works at an airport and had been asked the question by a colleague.  I told him I knew of a site which would come up with an answer.  You both of so thank you.