davenport en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈdævənpɔːt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈdævɪnˌpɔɹt/ (US)
- (US) audio
Etymology
* (sofa, couch): The sofa sense is a genericized trademark named after the defunct furniture manufacturer A. H. Davenport and Company. From the surname Davenport. Named after American businessman Albert H. Davenport * (desk)
Meanings
-
A large sofa, especially a formal one.
He blundered into the living-room, lay on the davenport, hands behind his head.
1922, Sinclair Lewis, Babbitt:Holonym: furniture
Beezus felt a little better. She curled up on the davenport again with 202 Things to Do on a Rainy Afternoon and read about making Christmas tree ornaments out of cellophane straws, until she heard her aunt's car turn into the driveway.
1955, Beverly Cleary, Beezus and Ramona:
-
A writing desk, especially a small one.
Then she went into the house, and, sitting down at the davenport in the dining-room, got out a sheet of her best notepaper, and wrote a note to Pamela Dysart in her strong, commercially clear hand.
1894, E[dith Anna] Œ[none] Somerville, Martin Ross [pseudonym; Violet Florence Martin], chapter IV, in The Real Charlotte […], volume I, London: Ward and Downey […], →OCLC, page 47:He crosses to the davenport to get the policies from his briefcase,
1944, Billy Wilder, Raymond Chandler, Double Indemnity, (screenplay):
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| davenports | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
chesterfield · secretary · loveseat · secretaire
Hypernyms
couch · writing desk · sofa · divan · settee