An 18th century
rococo chaise longue
A late 19th century chaise longue
A
chaise longue (, "long chair") is an
upholstered
couch in the shape of a
chair that is long enough to support the legs.
It is often also called "
chaise lounge" or
lounge chair in North America, particularly in the furniture industry. This mixed spelling and pronunciation has become well-established and can be found in American dictionaries, and is an example of a
folk etymology. In modern French the term
chaise longue can refer to any long reclining chair such as a
deckchair.
A
duchesse brisée is similar, but looks like a sideways-facing chair together with a long footstool. A chaise longue with a backrest at both ends is known as a
récamier.
See also
