Armrest

/ˈɑrmˌrɛst/ noun

Definition

A padded or hard support attached to furniture, especially chairs or couches, designed to support a person's arm.

Etymology

Compound from arm and rest. Modern armrests became standard on furniture in the 17th-18th centuries as furniture design became more elaborate.

Kelly Says

Armrests are a weirdly class-marked thing—they became standard on fancy furniture partly because they proved you didn't do manual labor (your arms didn't need to be functional, just rested).

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