noun Uncommon

Davenport

DA-vuhn-pawt

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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.”

noun

A large, comfortable sofa, especially one meant for a formal sitting room.

"They stretched out on the davenport to watch the evening news."

"Grandma still calls any big sofa a davenport."

A small, ornate writing desk.

"She kept her letters locked in the drawer of an antique davenport."

How to use Davenport

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old-fashioned word for a large sofa (mainly American, especially Midwestern), or, separately, a small ornamental writing desk.

UK vs US

"Davenport" for a sofa is chiefly American and now sounds dated; British English favors "sofa" or "settee."

Common pairings

stretch out on the davenport

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: Davenports

Test yourself on “Davenport” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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.

· First attested 1800

Class of 1800 Davenport joined the language around 1800.

alcohol Aryan Australia availability bah

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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.