tabouret
(ˈtæbərɛt, ‖ taburɛ)
Also 8 tabret.
[a. F. tabouret (taburɛ), in sense 2 (1442 in Hatz.-Darm.); orig. a small tabor or drum, a tabret, dim. of tabour, tabor, drum.]
† 1. The same as tabret, q.v. Obs.
2. a. A low seat or stool, without back or arms, for one person: so called originally from its shape. privilege of the tabouret: see quot. 1656.
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., Tabouret, a pincase; also a little low stool for a childe to sit on. In France the priviledge of the Tabouret is of a stool for some particular Ladies to sit in the Queens presence. 1679 tr. Marie Mancini's Apol. 30, I had the priviledge of sitting on a Tabourette in the Queens presence. a 1711 Ken Hymnotheo Poet. Wks. 1721 III. 191 Soon as a Stranger comes, she'll him embrace, Near her proud Person, on a tabret Place. 1858 Masson Milton (1859) I. 704 A studied slight put upon Lady Scudamore by refusing her the honour of the tabouret,—i.e. the right of being seated—on the occasion of a visit of ceremony to the French queen. 1899 Morrow Bohem. Paris 60 He had bought a new easel and two rush-bottomed tabourets. |
b. U.S. A small table, esp. one used as a stand for house-plants; a bedside table.
| 1916 Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catal. Fall 1244/2 Tabourets or jardinier stands. 1968 J. Updike Couples iii. 228 One of his flippers kicked over a tabouret holding a crammed ashtray and a small vase of asters. 1984 M. Babson Trail of Ashes iii. 33 Look in the bedside tabouret for a little nightcap. |
† 3. A pin-case or needle-case. Obs.
| 1656 [see sense 2]. 1891 in Cent. Dict. |
4. A frame for embroidery, a tambour-frame.
| 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Tabouret,..an embroidery frame. 1891 in Cent. Dict. |