ENGLISH
REFERENCE

davenport

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈdævənˌpɔɹt// UK //dˈævənpˌɔːt// dav·en·port

n. a large, comfortable sofa that can sometimes be turned into a bed. In some places, it also refers to a small, stylish writing desk.

n. a large upholstered sofa, often one that can be converted into a bed; alternatively, a small ornamental writing desk with drawers and a sloping top.


SIMPLE

We sat on the davenport to watch the evening news.

CONTEXTUAL

The living room was anchored by a heavy velvet davenport that had been in the family for three generations.

COMPLEX

While the term has largely faded from modern urban parlance, it remains a common regionalism in parts of North America to describe a formal sofa or a convertible davenport bed.

Origin

As an English surname, from Middle English Devennport, named after the River Dane + port. The first element is from Welsh dafn (“trickle, drop”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- (“mist, haze”). * As an Irish surname, from Ó Donndubhartaigh (“descendant of Donndubhartach”), which is from donn (“brown”) + dubh (“black”) + artach (“nobleman”); see airigh.

Usage

The furniture sense varies by region; in the Midwestern United States, it specifically implies a sofa, whereas in British English, it more commonly refers to the desk.

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