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Original · left

Desktop (furniture)

The flat, polished wooden writing surface resting on top of a piece of study furniture.

First in use: the 1900s
Duplicate · right

Desktop (GUI)

The primary base graphical user interface displaying system icons, taskbars, and application windows.

First in use: the 1970s

Desktop / Desktop (furniture) / Desktop (GUI)

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Canonical todayMeasuring…
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Duplicate share · 12 mo—
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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

The top of a desk vs. Xerox PARC's metaphor.

Which meaning of Desktop is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Desktop (furniture) came first (the 1900s). Desktop (GUI) arrived in the 1970s. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Desktop (furniture)Desktop (GUI)
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1900s

Desktop (furniture)

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Duplicate · the 1970s

Desktop (GUI)

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More duplicated terms

Design & UX