ottoman

Where does the word "ottoman" come from? It comes from Ottoman Turkish Uthmani, passing through French before entering English (1800s).

Ottoman’s story begins in Ottoman Turkish: Uthmani meant “relating to the Ottoman dynasty.” Relating to Osman, founder of the Ottoman dynasty, later applied to a low cushioned seat in Ottoman style. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as ottomane. Named after the Ottoman Empire, whose cushioned divans inspired the seat. It reached English by 1800s as ottoman. Settled as the English word for the upholstered footstool. Today, ottoman means an upholstered seat or footstool without arms or a back.

1. Stage 1 · Ottoman Turkish · 1300s Uthmani "relating to the Ottoman dynasty", relating to Osman, founder of the Ottoman dynasty, later applied to a low cushioned seat in Ottoman style.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1700s ottomane "a low cushioned seat or footstool", named after the Ottoman Empire, whose cushioned divans inspired the seat.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s ottoman "an upholstered seat or footstool without a back", settled as the English word for the upholstered footstool.