Furniture pieces were historically given the names of monarchs to gain favor. Naming furniture is good marketing. A “Jasmine Chair” in a catalog is more appealing than the “XY 9811.” Exploring the origins of furniture names reveals their history.
The Evolution of Couch
The cushy couch is also called a sofa, divan, or settee. Couches became fashionable in the 17th century. The name comes from the French “coucher” meaning “to lie down”. While couch is favored in the U.S., in England it’s commonly called a sofa.
The word settee came from the Old English “setl”, used to describe benches with high backs and arms, but now refers to upholstered seating.
Furniture and Branding
Furniture names make certain styles easier to identify. For example, “wingback chair” conveys a traditional style with wings on the back. Naming also allows makers to tie pieces to their brand. Furniture names can be inspired by cultures, art periods, classical music, and designers.
Some furniture honors its maker or a famous connection. A Chippendale or Sheraton chair is named for its designer. Larkin desks are named for the company that gave them away. The Wooten desk was named for its maker. The Recamier sofa is named for the woman who posed on it.
Historical and Global References
Cockroaches were known to the Spanish as Cucarachas. Their scientific order, Blattodea, comes from the Latin word for "insect that shuns the light". Prehistoric roaches emerged about 350 million years ago.
Modern roaches have existed for 150 million years. Scientists don’t know their exact origin but fossils date back 235 million years.
Locally named mountain bike trails like “Satan’s Crack” confuse visiting riders. Some trails now have published guides translating colloquial to formal names.
The English pound comes from the Latin term for weight. Spanish pesos and Italian liras also refer to weights.
Theories exist on why a chess piece is a castle or tower in Europe. Persians may have likened war chariots to mobile fortresses.
Green Magic Broccoli is known for uniform heads on compact, fast maturing plants. Despite the risk of bloating dried legumes pose, canned ones may be better tolerated. Chickpeas got their name from the Romans, later modernized by the French.