boudoir

English

Etymology

From French boudoir, from bouder (“to sulk”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbuːdwɑː/

Noun

boudoir (plural boudoirs)

1. A woman's private sitting room, dressing room, or bedroom.
   • 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter XII:

     I found her in her boudoir getting outside a dish of tea and a crumpet.

Usage notes

Strictly refers only to a woman’s room, but sometimes used informally or humorously by men to refer to their inner sanctum, as in The Big Sleep (1939), by American writer Raymond Chandler, where Philip Marlowe (the hero, a man) says (p. 53):

“Tut, tut,” I said. “Come into my boudoir.”

Coordinate terms

• cabinet, study (male equivalent)

Translations

woman's private room

Spanish: tocador (es) m. (dressing room)

See also

• withdrawing room, drawing room

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French

Etymology

bouder +‎ -oir

Pronunciation

• IPA: /bu.dwaʁ/

Noun

boudoir m. (plural boudoirs)

1. boudoir
2. sponge, ladyfinger