chaise longue
shez LONG
/ˌʃɛz ˈlɒŋ/
A long, low upholstered chair designed for reclining, typically with a backrest at only one end.
Evokes luxury, relaxation, and classical elegance; designed for a single person to stretch out completely.
The story behind the word. Literally translating to 'long chair' in French, this piece became highly popular among the French aristocracy in the 16th century as a symbol of wealth and intellectual leisure, allowing noblewomen to rest without retiring to their bedrooms.
Word relationships
- daybed: A daybed is more like a standard twin bed used for seating, whereas a chaise longue is shaped like an elongated chair.
- fainting couch: A fainting couch is a specific Victorian style of chaise longue with a backrest that slopes down along one side.
Commonly confused with
- chaise lounge: This is a common English corruption of the French 'chaise longue' (long chair), influenced by the English verb 'lounge'.
Collocations
- velvet chaise longue
- outdoor chaise longue
- antique chaise longue
Example sentences
- "In the sunroom, a velvet chaise longue stood near the window, inviting guests to lie back and read." A description of a luxurious sunroom.
Memory hook
It is a 'chair' that is 'long'—just say it with a French accent: chaise longue. Chaise longue: The long chair of luxury.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a standard sofa meant for multiple people sitting upright.
Fun facts
- The common spelling 'chaise lounge' is a classic example of folk etymology, where English speakers altered 'longue' to 'lounge' because it made sense for a chair used for lounging.
Related words
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