What does chaise mean?
A chaise is, in contemporary usage, a long, low upholstered seat built for reclining — the kind of elegant couch found beside pools, on sunlit verandas, or at the foot of a bedroom. The word is a shortened form of the fuller term 'chaise longue,' borrowed from French and literally meaning 'long chair.' Before it came to denote furniture, however, 'chaise' named a light, open two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage popular from the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries; this older sense now appears mostly in historical novels and discussions of pre-automotive transport. The word carries connotations of leisure, comfort, and a certain refined elegance, which is why interior designers and hoteliers favor it. Because of its French pronunciation (/ʃeɪz/), it is occasionally mispronounced or respelled as 'chaise lounge' in American English. Whether evoking Regency-era travel or modern relaxation, the chaise remains a distinctly stylish item in both language and living rooms.
nounA chaise is a light, open two-wheeled carriage drawn by one or two horses; in modern usage it more commonly denotes a long, low upholstered seat or couch for reclining (a chaise longue), or the lounge chair version of that piece of furniture.
- A long, low upholstered seat designed for reclining (short for 'chaise longue').
- A light open horse-drawn carriage, typically two-wheeled and seating one or two people (now chiefly historical).
"She stretched out on the chaise by the window with a novel and a cup of tea."
"He dozed off on the wicker chaise out on the veranda."
"In Austen's novels, characters often travel between estates by post chaise."
Regular plural formation; pronounced /ʃeɪzɪz/.
"Two rattan chaises faced the ocean from the resort's private deck."
The word 'chaise' is simply French for 'chair' — so every time English speakers say 'chaise longue,' many mispronounce it as 'chaise lounge,' turning a French borrowing into an accidental pun.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chaise
Chaise entered English from French in the early eighteenth century, when it denoted a light two-wheeled carriage. The French word itself derives ultimately from Latin 'cathedra,' meaning a chair or seat, via Old French. A later borrowing, 'chaise longue' (literally 'long chair'), was adopted in the late eighteenth century to describe a reclining couch; over time English speakers shortened it to simply 'chaise,' shifting the dominant meaning toward furniture. Cognates sharing the Latin root include 'chair' itself and 'cathedral' (originally a church housing a bishop's cathedra, or official seat).
How chaise is actually used
In everyday modern usage, 'chaise' almost always refers to the furniture sense and is frequently used as shorthand for 'chaise longue.' The carriage sense survives mainly in historical writing and period fiction. In American English, the variant spelling 'chaise lounge' is widespread though considered nonstandard by style guides.
Easily confused with chaise
A chaise longue is specifically a long reclining chair, whereas 'chaise' alone can also refer to a historical horse-drawn carriage.
'Chase' means to pursue something, while 'chaise' refers to either a light carriage or a reclining chair — they are unrelated words with similar spellings.