ottoman

1 of 2

noun

ot·​to·​man ˈä-tə-mən 

1

capitalized

a

: a member of a Turkish dynasty founded by Osman I that ruled the Ottoman Empire

b

: a citizen or functionary of the Ottoman Empire

2

[French ottomane, from feminine of ottoman, adjective]

a

: an upholstered often overstuffed seat or couch usually without a back

b

: an overstuffed footstool

3

: a heavy clothing fabric characterized by pronounced crosswise ribs

Ottoman

2 of 2

adjective

Ot·​to·​man ˈä-tə-mən 

: of or relating to the Ottoman Empire or its citizens

Examples of ottoman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ellen Striped Farmhouse Cube Ottoman Upgrade your living room with a farmhouse-style cube ottoman that offers additional seating and a place to rest your feet. —Ali Faccenda, People.com, 12 Oct. 2024

Better Homes & Gardens Hawthorne Park Outdoor Storage Ottoman This outdoor ottoman offers both additional seating and storage thanks to its dual-function design. —Megan Schaltegger, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Oct. 2024

Add it in a sneaky way using this storage ottoman that is perfect for storing extra blankets and bedding. —Taylor Gumm, Rolling Stone, 5 Oct. 2024

This versatile ottoman provides plenty of storage for your stuff and can also serve as extra seating when needed. —Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French, adjective & noun, probably from Italian ottomano, from Arabic ʽothmānī, from ʽOthmān Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire

First Known Use

Noun

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1546, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ottoman

1 of 2 noun

ot·​to·​man ˈät-ə-mən 

plural ottomans

1

capitalized : a citizen or government official of the Ottoman Empire

2

: an upholstered footstool

Ottoman

2 of 2 adjective

Ot·​to·​man ˈät-ə-mən 

: of or relating to the Ottoman Empire, its rulers, or its citizens or government officials