Definition

1. Noun:

   • A low, upholstered seat or footstool without a back or arms: An ottoman is a piece of furniture designed as a footrest or a low seat, often padded and sometimes used for storage.
   • A thick, padded cushion used as a seat: It can also refer to a large, firm cushion placed on the floor to sit on.
   • A member of the Turkish dynasty founded by Osman I, which ruled the Ottoman Empire: This usage refers to a historical person belonging to the ruling family.
   • (Archaic) A Turk, especially from the tribe of Osman I: An older term for a Turkish person, particularly from the founding tribe of the empire.

2. Adjective:

   • Relating to the Ottoman Empire or its people, culture, or history: Describes anything connected to the former Ottoman Empire.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Furniture):
  • She put her feet up on the leather ottoman.
  • The living room has a large ottoman that doubles as a coffee table.
• Noun (Historical/Dynastic):
  • The sultan was a powerful Ottoman.
• Adjective:
  • Ottoman architecture is famous for its grand mosques and intricate tilework.
  • The Ottoman era lasted for over six centuries.

Advanced Usage

• "Ottoman" as a modifier: The term is often used attributively to describe objects, styles, or concepts from the empire.
  • He collects Ottoman carpets.
  • They studied the decline of Ottoman power.

Variants and Related Words

• Ottoman Empire (proper noun): The historical empire ruled by the Ottoman dynasty.
• Ottoman Turkish (proper noun): The form of the Turkish language used in the Ottoman Empire.

Synonyms

• Footstool, pouf, hassock (for the furniture sense).
• Turk (for the archaic "person" sense, though this is not a precise synonym).

Notes on Usage

• When referring to the furniture, "ottoman" is a common noun.
• When referring to the empire, dynasty, or its attributes, "Ottoman" is typically capitalized.
• The archaic use referring to a Turkish person is now rare and may be considered dated or historical.

Adjective

1. of or relating to the Ottoman Empire or its people or its culture

Noun

1. a low seat or a stool to rest the feet of a seated person
2. thick cushion used as a seat
3. the Turkish dynasty that ruled the Ottoman Empire from the 13th century to its dissolution after World War I
4. a Turk (especially a Turk who is a member of the tribe of Osman I)