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Glite Dictionary
captain's chair

captain's chair

2 5.9
A wooden armchair with a curved seat and a low back with vertical bars
  • noun
  • /ˈkæptɪnz tʃɛr/
translation icon : silla de capitán
  • We sat in padded captain's chairs at an oak dining table tucked into one corner of the living room.
  • sit in the captain's chair
  • one of the captain's chairs
  • two captain's chairs

Examples

  • Elizabeth had brought one of the captain's chairs from the den.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • We sat at one of the round, wooden tables in those big captain's chairs.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Data sat up just a little bit straighter in the captain's chair.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Adrian was seated in the captain's chair.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • We sat at one of the round, wooden tables in those big captain's chairs.

  • I sat down in one of the captain's chairs to enjoy my coffee.

  • Bubba pulled himself into the captain's chair and strapped in comfortably.

Synonyms

chair
vscaptain's chair
∞ 1.0

A seat for one person with a back and legs

is narrower naming a particular wooden arm-equipped design with a saddle sitting area
seat
vscaptain's chair
∞ 1.0

The part of a chair or bench that you sit on

is a specific wooden arm-equipped piece with a saddle-shaped low back
armchair
vscaptain's chair
42 1.0

A comfortable chair with supports on each side for your arms

is a specific wooden arm-equipped form with a saddle-shaped sitting surface and spindle back

How Comfortable

recliner
18 3.1
armchair
42 1.0
captain's chair
2 5.9
side chair
1 3.4
stool
95 1.0

Surface Forms

captain's chair singular
captain's chairs plural

Morphology

captain's + chair

The compound is a straightforward possessive noun phrase: 'captain's' + 'chair' literally indicates a chair belonging to or associated with a captain. This compositional pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words will be able to infer its basic meaning (a type or seat used by a captain).

Etymology

Captain's chair may come from the special seat a ship's captain used, a strong wooden chair placed where the captain could sit and lead. That's why the name now means 'a sturdy armchair often put at the head of a table or desk', showing a place of authority and comfort.