Wordcrafter recently gave us a thread of words which have "two separate meanings, conveying two different concepts".

What about "davenport"? How did it come to mean both a typo of sofa, and a type of writing-desk?

Online Etymology Dictionary says that the "couch" meaning probably comes from the name of the manufacturer. They mention the earlier "writing table" meaning, but don't give an etmyology, although they say the proper name comes from a place in Cheshire.

My guess is that the tables were also named after a Mr Davenport, presumably a different one.

My mother always used the word "davenport" for coach or sofa, while all my friends' moms said either "couch" or "sofa," and that's what I hear now. Is "davenport" a regional term?

quote:

Originally posted by wordnerd:
Wordcrafter recently gave us a thread of words which have "two separate meanings, conveying two different concepts".

What about "davenport"? How did it come to mean both a typo of sofa, and a type of writing-desk?

This article explains it .

We had a sofa in the family room, and a davenport in the living room. Now I have a couch and a love seat in my back room. Go figure.