divan

Where does the word "divan" come from? It comes from Persian divan, passing through Ottoman Turkish and French before entering English (1700s).

Divan’s story begins in Persian: divan meant “a council, register.” Originally a register or council chamber. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish as divan. The council chamber, furnished with long cushioned benches. From there it passed into French as divan by 1700s. Narrowed to mean the long cushioned seat itself. It reached English by 1700s as divan. English first used it in 1586, in a translation by Thomas Bowes, for the Ottoman council itself; the seat sense comes from the council chamber's cushioned benches. Today, divan means a long, low couch without a back or armrests.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval divan "a council, register", originally a register or council chamber.
2. Stage 2 · Ottoman Turkish · medieval divan "a council chamber; a cushioned bench", the council chamber, furnished with long cushioned benches.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1700s divan "a low couch or sofa", narrowed to mean the long cushioned seat itself.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1700s divan "a low couch without a back or arms", English first used it in 1586, in a translation by Thomas Bowes, for the Ottoman council itself; the seat sense comes from the council chamber's cushioned benches.