Английский Этимологический словарь - housing (2)

- "ornamental covering," 1312, houce "covering for the back and flanks of a horse," from M.L. hultia, from Frank. *khulfti (cf. M.Du. hulfte "pocket for bow and arrow," M.H.G. hulft "covering"). Sense of "case or enclosure for machine or part" is first recorded 1882.