What is an Ottoman?
The word ottoman can mean a variety of things. It can refer to anything pertaining to the Ottoman Empire, it can be used to describe a Turkish man of a certain tribe, and it can also indicate a type of cloth. For our purposes, however, we are going to focus on the most widely used definition of the term today: a type of furniture. Traditionally, it is believed that the ottoman takes its roots from the divan, which is essentially a long, backless seat or padded bench with cushions to lean against. In fact, in some parts of world, the terms “divan” and “ottoman” are still interchangeable. The divan style of furniture was popularly used in the Middle Eastern council chambers of the government agency called Diwan, from which it got its name. The divan was popularized in Europe in the 1800’s. Nowadays, however, especially in North America, when one speaks of an ottoman, one is usually talking about a low, rectangular footrest, usually upholstered, which may double as additional seating or a
An ottoman is defined in the American Heritage Dictionary as an upholstered low seat or cushioned footstool. They are seen quite often as coordinates to sofas, love seats, or chairs. They add a bit of character as well as comfort to any room. They are available in a variety of sizes, colors and designs, which makes them extremely popular for many consumers today.
