A chaise longue (;[1] in French ʃɛz lɔ̃ɡ/, "long chair") is an upholstered sofa in the shape of a chair that is long enough to support the legs of the sitter.
In modern French, the term chaise longue refers to any long reclining chair, such as a deckchair.
In English, the term "chaise longue" is sometimes written as chaise lounge and pronounced, a folk etymology replacement of part of the original French term with the unrelated English word lounge.[2] When English speakers imported a new kind of sofa from France in the late 1700s, they transformed the name 'chaise longue' ("long chair") into 'chaise lounge'—since 'lounge' is an English word spelled with the same letters and lounging is something one can do on a "chaise longue." This variant has been documented in British[3] texts since at least 1811 and in American texts[4] since 1824.[5]
The modern chaise longue was first popularised during the 16th century in France. They were created by French furniture craftsmen for the rich to rest without the need to retire to the bedroom. It was during the Rococo period that the chaise longue became the symbol of social status and only the rarest and most expensive materials were used in their construction. Today, the chaise longue is considered a luxury item for the modern home. They are often used to complement a home's décor, such as living or reading rooms, or as stylish boudoir chairs for bedroom seating.[6]
The chaise longue has traditionally been associated with psychoanalysis. Sigmund Freud initiated using the chaise longue for this purpose, the idea being that the patient would recline on a couch, with the analyst seated beyond the head of the couch, so that the client would not see the analyst. Reclining and not having to face the analyst was thought to be disinhibiting and encouraging free association. When Freud began to use the chaise longue, Viennese considered it daring to recline on a chaise in the presence of non-intimates. Freud's chaise longue, given to him by a patient, may be seen today at the Freud Museum in London.[8]
Today, psychoanalysts invite clients to recline on couches in their offices during psychotherapy and may use chaises longues rather than more conventional styles of couches out of tradition. The chaise longue is commonly used as visual shorthand to suggest a generic psychotherapist's office in cartoons and other works.[9]