tallboy
/'tɔ:lbɔi/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A tall chest of drawers: A piece of furniture, typically supported on legs, that is taller than it is wide and contains a vertical arrangement of drawers. Historically, it is often divided into two distinct sections, with the upper section being slightly recessed.
Usage
The word "tallboy" is used to describe a specific type of antique or traditional furniture. It is a compound noun, and its meaning is specific to this item.
Examples
- The antique tallboy in the hallway was a family heirloom.
- She stores her linens in the tallboy in the bedroom.
- The auction featured a beautiful 18th-century mahogany tallboy.
Advanced Usage
- As a descriptor: The term can be used attributively to specify the style of another piece, though this is less common (e.g., "a tallboy dresser").
- Regional Note: In American English, a similar piece of furniture is more commonly called a "highboy" or "chest-on-chest."
Variants and Related Words
- Highboy: (noun) A tall chest of drawers, often with legs, similar to a tallboy. This is the more common term in American English.
- Chest of drawers: (noun) A more general term for a piece of furniture with multiple horizontal drawers.
- Chest-on-chest: (noun) A piece consisting of one chest of drawers placed on top of another, slightly wider one.
Synonyms
- Highboy
- Chest of drawers (though this is a broader category)
Antonyms
- Lowboy (a low chest of drawers, typically on short legs)
Notes
- "Tallboy" is a closed compound word. Its meaning is specific and cannot be deduced solely from the separate words "tall" and "boy."
- The term is primarily used in British English and in contexts discussing antique furniture.
Noun
- a tall chest of drawers divided into two sections and supported on four legs