furniture
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Middle French fourniture (“a supply, or the act of furnishing”), from fournir (“to furnish”).
Pronunciation [edit]
- (UK) IPA: /ˈfɜːnɪtʃə/, X-SAMPA: /"f3:nItS@/
- (US) IPA: /ˈfɜɹnɪtʃəɹ/, X-SAMPA: /"f3`nItS@`/
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Audio (US) (file)
Noun [edit]
furniture (usually uncountable; plural furnitures)
- (now usually uncountable) Large movable item(s), usually in a room, which enhance(s) the room's characteristics, functionally or decoratively.
- The woman does not even have one stick of furniture moved in yet.
- How much furniture did they leave behind?
- A chair is furniture. Sofas are also furniture.
- The harness, trappings etc. of a horse, hawk, or other animal.
- 1603, John Florio, trans. Michel de Montaigne, Essays, I.42:
- We commend a horse because he is strong and nimble, [...] and not for his furniture: a greyhound for his swiftnesse, not for his collar: a hawke for her wing, not for her cranes or bells.
- 1934, George Cameron Stone, A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor, ISBN 0486407268.
- Amongst the rich this part of a hawk's furniture is ornamented with embroidery, handsome silver aigrettes, tassels and other decorations.
- 2002, Ronald Pawly, Wellington's Dutch Allies 1815, page 19, ISBN 1841763934.
- Horse furniture included a white sheepskin with red 'wolf's teeth'; blue shabraque with yellow edging and royal cypher; blue valise with yellow edging.
- 1603, John Florio, trans. Michel de Montaigne, Essays, I.42:
- Fittings, such as handles, of a door, coffin, or other wooden item.
- 1994, Philip Haythornthwaite, British Cavalryman 1792-1815, page 30, ISBN 1855323648.
- ...a new universal pistol, one to be carried by each man, with a 9-inch barrel of musket-bore and an iron ramrod carried in the holster; the furniture was reduced to just a brass trigger guard (no butt-plate), and some were fitted with Nock's lock.
- 1994, Philip Haythornthwaite, British Cavalryman 1792-1815, page 30, ISBN 1855323648.
Usage notes [edit]
- Before the end of the nineteenth century, the plural furnitures existed in Standard English in both the U.S. and the U.K.; during the twentieth century, however, it ceased to be used by native speakers.
- A single item of furniture, such as a chair or a table, is often called a piece of furniture.
Hyponyms [edit]
- See also Wikisaurus:furniture
Meronyms [edit]
Related terms [edit]
Derived terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
an item, or items, (usually) in a room
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External links [edit]
- furniture in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- furniture in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
