Chesterfield
/ˈtʃɛstərˌfiːld/noun
A long, upholstered sofa, especially one with low arms and a deep buttoned back.
Did you know?The furniture word is named for the Earl of Chesterfield, and English has a long habit of turning aristocratic names into everyday objects.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
Ceaster
“A Roman town or fortified city, from Latin castra 'camp'.”
Old English
OE
feld
“Open land, field, plain.”
Middle English
ME
Chesterfeld
“A place-name meaning 'open land by the Roman town/camp'.”
18th Century
English
Chesterfield
“A title associated with the Earl of Chesterfield.”
19th Century
English
Chesterfield
“A style of sofa, named after the Earl of Chesterfield.”
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