antimacassar

Definition

A cover for the back or arms of a chair or sofa.

Etymology

From anti- + macassar. Antimacassars were originally used to protect upholstery from being soiled by macassar oil in the sitter's hair.

Example Sentences

• "She was particularly fond of animals, and, besides her canary, whose cage hung on a nail in the massive wall of the keep by day, to the great annoyance of prisoners who relished an after-dinner nap, and was shrouded in an antimacassar on the parlour table at night, she kept several piebald mice and a restless revolving squirrel."
• "[…] how could anyone on a three-legged stool under the high top of the sofa sleep? Especially if the fringe of an antimacassar lolled over the top and tickled your neck?"
• "The upholstery is of Irish tweed, with antimacassars in Irish linen, and the rugs are hand-woven in Celtic design."