A piece of furniture, especially a cabinet or bookcase, with a front that projects outward in the center, creating an uneven profile.
From 'break' (to interrupt or vary) + 'front' (the facing side). The architectural and furniture term emerged in the 18th century to describe a fashionable style where the front wasn't flat but 'broke' or stepped outward.
Breakfronts were status symbols in Georgian and Victorian homes—they showed you could afford fancy cabinetry and had space to make your furniture jut out dramatically. Seeing one in an antique shop means you're looking at 200+ years of style history.
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