Definition

Noun: A highboy is a tall piece of furniture, specifically a chest of drawers, that is typically divided into two stacked sections (a lower base and an upper cabinet with drawers) and is supported on four legs.

Usage

A highboy is used for storage, often in a bedroom or dressing room. It is a formal, traditional style of furniture.

Examples

• The antique highboy in the bedroom held all of her sweaters and scarves.
• They purchased a mahogany highboy to match their other colonial-style furniture.
• The highboy was so tall that it almost reached the ceiling.

Advanced Usage

• As a design element: In interior design, a highboy is often used as a statement piece due to its height and traditional craftsmanship.
  • The room's focal point was an ornate, 18th-century highboy.

Variants and Related Words

• Lowboy (noun): A low chest of drawers, often matching in style to a highboy but much shorter and without the upper section.
  • The dressing table was flanked by a lowboy on one side.

Synonyms

• Tallboy (noun): A chiefly British term for the same piece of furniture.
• Chest-on-chest (noun): A similar tall chest of drawers, typically where one chest is placed directly on top of another.

Different Meanings

The word highboy does not have other common meanings outside of this specific piece of furniture. It is not to be confused with informal or slang terms containing "high."

Noun

1. a tall chest of drawers divided into two sections and supported on four legs