A chaise longue (pronounced in the French way, shez LAWNG) is an upholstered couch in the shape of a chair that is long enough to support the legs.
It is often also called "chaise lounge" or lounge chair in North America. This mixed spelling and pronunciation has become well-established and can be found in American dictionaries, and is an example of a folk etymology. In modern French the term chaise longue can refer to any long reclining chair such as a deckchair.
A duchess brisée is similar, but looks like a sideways-facing chair together with a long footstool. A chaise longue with a backrest at both ends is known as a récamier.
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