méridienne

See also: meridienne

English

Alternative forms

• meridienne

Etymology

From French méridienne, feminine of méridien (“meridian; noon (attributive)”), from its typical use: rest in the middle of the day, when the sun is near the meridian.

Noun

méridienne (plural méridiennes)

1. An asymmetrical daybed with a high head-rest, and a lower foot-rest, joined by a sloping piece.
   • 1981, Americana, page 24, column 2:

     Méridiennes have sold for up to $19,000 a pair, a bid posted at Morton’s. “Méridiennes such as that one are the rare pieces that bring top dollar,” says Phillip Alford, Morton’s nineteenth-century furniture expert.

   • 1990, Architectural Digest, page 260:

     Silk velvet on the méridiennes is from Manuel Canovas; Clarence House fabric covers the sofa and front of fauteuils.

   • 1990, Museum Notes, page 23:

     This, too, has now been restored and reupholstered, and the unusual pair of méridiennes (short daybeds) will be installed on either side of the mantlepiece in the upstairs hall.

Further reading

• Chaise longue on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /me.ʁi.djɛn/

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

méridienne

1. feminine singular of méridien

Noun

méridienne f (plural méridiennes)

1. méridienne
2. (dated) afternoon nap

   Synonym: sieste

   faire la méridienne ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Further reading

• “méridienne” in the Dictionnaire de l’Académie françoise, 4th Edition (1762).
• “méridienne” in the Dictionnaire de l’Académie française, 8th Edition (1932–35).
• “méridienne” in the Dictionnaire de l’Académie française, 9th Edition (1992-).
• “meridienne” in Dictionnaire français en ligne Larousse.
• “méridienne”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.