the.com/armchair
the throne for people who conquer continents without leaving the cushion
means A comfortable chair with supports for your arms — and, used before another word, someone who theorizes about a thing without any real-world experience of doing it.
from A plain compound of 'arm' and 'chair,' describing a chair with arms, in use since the 1600s. The mocking sense — armchair general, armchair critic, armchair traveller — came later, picturing the expert who pronounces on war, sport, or distant lands while never rising from the seat.
- name origin
- named for arms, the rests royalty refused to live without
- armchair expert
- spawned a whole insult for couch-bound critics
- wingback design
- side flaps once trapped fireplace heat near your face
- club chair
- deep leather seats furnished gentlemen's clubs for serious lounging
eames lounge chair — iconic molded plywood and leather design by charles and ray eames, first produced in 1956
chesterfield armchair — button-tufted leather chair originating in 18th century england, named after the earl of chesterfield
wingback chair — high-backed chair with side wings developed in 17th century britain to contain fireplace heat