Did you call it a couch, sofa or .....?

Question

davenport? Where did the term "davenport" originate?

Answer 1

CALL IT A SOFA OR COUCH OR DAVENPORT.

DAVENPORT CAME FROM THE COMPANY WHO MANUFACTURED THE SOFAS OF THAT NAME (A.H.DAVENPORT CO.)

Answer 2

I had no idea until I did a search, and Ju Ju had the correct
info. I had forgotten the term, 'daveno' which our family used
and 'davenport' before that. According to Wickipedia,
'daveno' was used mainly in the northwest. That was during
the 50's at one location I lived. After my mom got a new
designed couch, around 1958, it became a "couch" and no
longer a daveno, or the earlier 'davenport'. I don't know
when the word 'couch' became popular, but I know I used
it when we all moved into a new house with a basement
'party room', and we had a couch in there. I never knew any-
one use the term, 'sofa' in the nw. city I grew up in. Since
in the early to mid 50's we used the word, 'daveno' toward
two sectionals that if placed together, would make a stand-
ard length couch, I wonder if that was the actual term for
the shorter, two seater version of a 'davenport'. At my
grandmas early house, she had a 'davenport' that was
standard length, and was a puffy overstuffed couch, with
very thick cushions. They mostly were during the 40's. I
think it was 'comfort' not looks, as the desire when those
were made. They were huge and heavy. And probably
made to last a lifetime back then. And could have, had
the 50's not brought in a modernization of living room furn-
iture. Seems the newer, the cheaper components, and
nothing holds up to last a lifetime anymore.

Answer 3

I segue between couch and sofa. Never did use the term davenport or 'settee' or chesterfield

• noun 1 Brit. an ornamental writing desk with drawers and a sloping surface for writing. 2 N. Amer. a large upholstered sofa.

— ORIGIN sense 1 is named after a Captain Davenport, for whom a desk of this type was made in the 18th century; sense 2 is probably a manufacturer’s name.

Answer 4

The word "davenport" has mysterious origins. It first appeared about l897, and it is thought to have come from a Davenport Compamy that made furniture.

The English Chesterfield and the davenport are similar pieces of furniture.

Oddly, there was a davenport desk that was also about the same vintage. There was also a china company by that name.

My mother called it a davenport, I don't know if it was regional, or what. She grew up in Nebraska.

The word "couch" is also an odd one, but that comes from
Middle English couche, from Old French culche, couche, from couchier, to lay down, lie down

Sofa, or sopha, an Arabic word used as early as 1625, "raised section of a floor, covered with carpets and cushions," from Turk. sofa, from Ar. suffah "bench." Meaning "long stuffed seat for reclining" is recorded from 1717.

I call it a couch, or sofa, whatever happens to fall out of my mouth, lol!

Answer 5

Heh heh or a local term like "daveno"? Also in Ohio, some people call a sofa suite a "sofa suit." Both used to drive me nuts,. Don't know where the term davenport came from--maybe they were first manufactured in Davenport , Iowa? (just guessing) I call it either couch or sofa. And then theres a chaise lounge and a fainting bench or couch.

Answer 6

We call it a couch and always have. Only rich people had davenports.

Answer 7

Couch

Answer 8

Call Sofa

Answer 9

I alternate between couch and sofa (mostly sofa). I think the term "davenport" is from England. I have heard it used in movies from the 30's or so. Maybe even up to the 50's. I haven't heard the word "davenport" for a long, long time..

Answer 10

When I was a child, the couch was always called a chesterfield and it was in the front room. Now our couch is in the livingroom. I don't know where davenport originated from but I always thought it was a couch where the back folded down to turn it into a bed.

Answer 11

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
sofa
1625, "raised section of a floor, covered with carpets and cushions," from Turk. sofa, from Ar. suffah "bench." Meaning "long stuffed seat for reclining" is recorded from 1717.

[Middle English couche, from Old French culche, couche, from couchier, to lay down, lie down, from Latin collocāre; see collocate.]

This link explains the difference between Davenport and sofa.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davenport_(sofa)

Blessings Juju