Plural of sofa; upholstered seats designed for two or more people, typically with a back and arms. Long, comfortable pieces of furniture for sitting or reclining.
From Arabic suffah, meaning a long seat covered with cushions. The word entered English via Turkish sofa in the 17th century, originally referring to a raised platform with cushions in Ottoman culture.
The sofa was originally a Middle Eastern concept - the Arabic 'suffah' was a bench-like seat in the Prophet Muhammad's mosque where people would gather. When Europeans encountered this furniture style through Ottoman trade, they adapted both the design and the name, making it a cornerstone of Western living rooms.
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