Mike from Cadillac called in a question that has come up before: why is a certain piece of Furniture called a davenport? My immediate thought was that it must have been manufactured in Davenport, Iowa, but I was mistaken. It has all sorts of cousins.
davenport: A type of large, upholstered Couch or sofa which may be convertible into a bed. [Probably from the maker’s name]
couch: An article of furniture for Reclining or sitting on. [L. to put in place]
sofa: A long, Stuffed seat with a back and ends or end, used for reclining; a form of lounge or couch. [Arabic: a part of the floor raised a foot or two, covered with rich carpets and cushions, and used for sitting upon]
divan: Now usually, a low bed or couch with no back or ends. [Persian: a cushioned bench]
settee: A seat holding two or more persons, with a back and arms. [Perhaps a fanciful variation of settle, a place to sit]
chesterfield: A stuffed couch or sofa with a back and upright arms. [Ostentatiously named after an Earl of Chesterfield, though he probably had nothing to do with it]
lounge: A kind of sofa or easy chair on which one can lie at full length. [Origin obscure]
Word Parts Dictionary, Nook edition
Word Parts Dictionary, Kindle edition
Words to the Wise, Kindle Edition
Listen to Mike’s program in real time every Tuesday morning, 9:10 - 10:00 a.m. EST, by going to wtcmradio.comand clicking on Listen Now. You’ll also find about a month’s worth of podcasts there under The Ron Jolly Show.
Visit The Senior Corner, a web site containing information for senior citizens.
