Davenport
Davenport (noun) means a large, comfortable sofa, especially one meant for a formal sitting room. Example: “They stretched out on the davenport to watch the evening news.”
How to use Davenport
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned word for a large sofa (mainly American, especially Midwestern), or, separately, a small ornamental writing desk.
"Davenport" for a sofa is chiefly American and now sounds dated; British English favors "sofa" or "settee."
Word forms
Davenports plural, davenports plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They stretched out on the _____ to watch the evening news.
Etymology
From the English surname Davenport, originally referring to someone from a place of that name in Cheshire (from the River Dane plus "port"). The furniture sense likely traces to a 19th-century manufacturer or purchaser named Davenport.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Davenport” mean?
The word “Davenport” means a large, comfortable sofa, especially one meant for a formal sitting room. In plain terms, an old-fashioned word for a large sofa (mainly American, especially Midwestern), or, separately, a small ornamental writing desk.
How do you pronounce “Davenport”?
“Davenport” is pronounced DA-vuhn-pawt (/ˈdævənpɔːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “Davenport” in a sentence?
Here is “Davenport” used in a sentence: “They stretched out on the davenport to watch the evening news.”
What part of speech is “Davenport”?
“Davenport” is a noun.
Where does the word “Davenport” come from?
The word “Davenport” dates back to around 1800.
Is “Davenport” a common word?
“Davenport” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Davenport” have?
“Davenport” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large, comfortable sofa, especially one meant for a formal sitting room.