Preferred term

Duchesse

Definition

n. from Old French duchesse, feminine of duc duke. The duchesse is a piece of rest furniture, resulting from the extension of the seat of an armchair with armrests, with a high headboard and a lower footboard, sometimes with a removable lower back and a seat deep enough for a seated person to stretch out their legs. It is named after an old piece of furniture known as the "duchess's bed". In the 18th century, the duchess was also a chaise longue with a back in fashion under Louis XV. The duchesse was mainly used by women. It developed in France in the middle of the 18th century.