Chesterfield, n.
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Pronunciation: /ˈtʃɛstəfiːld/
Forms: Also chesterfield.
Etymology: < the name of an Earl of Chesterfield in 19th cent.
1. A kind of overcoat.
1852 G. C. Mundy Our Antipodes III. i. 32 Chesterfield, Benjamin, Taglioni, and Macintosh are sumptuary nobodies; and Nicol is only tolerated in his most gossamer form.
a1889 J. Albery Dram. Wks. (1939) II. 521 Great blue Chesterfield I had, I now use as a pea-jacket.
1907 English Gentleman Feb. 1 The Chesterfield and other over~coats will also be somewhat shorter than last season.
1968 J. Ironside Fashion Alphabet 38 Chesterfield.‥ This coat is a fly-fronted, single-breasted, straight coat, often with a velvet collar. It is now used as a description of a similar straight coat but it is sometimes double-breasted and more tailored.
2. A stuffed-over couch or sofa with a back and two ends, one of which is sometimes made adjustable.
1900 Westm. Gaz. 30 Jan. 10/2 The club room, charmingly furnished with chairs and Chesterfields upholstered with blue cretonnes.
1919 C. Orr Glorious Thing vi. 67 ‘Is that the book?’ asked Nannie, drawing in the Chesterfield, and motioning to him to sit down beside her.
1927 Chambers's Jrnl. 641/1 Both were seated, Jimmy in the chair facing him, and Betty on the chesterfield.
1954 Jrnl. Canadian Linguistic Assoc. 1 i. 16 Chesterfield seems to be in general use throughout Canada, though the usual American sofa is also known and used. Almost everywhere in the United States chesterfields are cigarettes and nothing more.
