divan
nounUK /dɪˈvæn/ · US /dɪˈvæn/
Etymology Borrowed from French, from Ottoman Turkish دیوان (divan), from Classical Persian دیوان (dēwān), from Middle Persian d(p)ywʾn' (dēwān, “archive, collected writings”), from Sumerian 𒁾 (dub). Compare mattress, from Arabic (both of Middle Eastern origin, due to the local custom of lying on padding on floor being foreign to Europeans). Doublet of dewan, douane, and diwaniya.
7 senses
- 1A Muslim council of state, specifically that of viziers…
- 2The council chamber where this court is held; (by…
- 3Any council or assembly.
- 4A couch or sofa-like piece of furniture made of a…
- 5An establishment that serves cigars and coffee, and may…
- 6A drug or cigarette den.
- 7A collection of poems, especially one written by an…
Historical A Muslim council of state, specifically that of viziers of the Ottoman Empire that discussed and recommended new laws and law changes to a higher authority (the sultan).
The council chamber where this court is held; (by extension), any court of justice.
Archaic Any council or assembly.
- Startled at such an unaccountable event, they sat in close divan; and concluding that the case was in all respects unnatural and prodigious, desired that a messenger might be immediately dispatched for some male practitioner in the art of midwifery.1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:
- As I passed, I called at the mad-house; where I found Mac Fane and the scowling keeper in high divan.1792, Thomas Holcroft, Anna St. Ives, vol. VII, letter 118:
Furniture, Lifestyle A couch or sofa-like piece of furniture made of a mattress lying against the wall and on either the floor or an elevated structure.
- Eurydice pointed to the cupboard, and sat down on the low divan with folded hands, and looked at the floor.1932, Maurice Baring, chapter 20, in Friday's Business:
Dated An establishment that serves cigars and coffee, and may offer other amenities such as books, newspapers, and chess.
- Near-synonym: smoking room
- These are delightful places, and must be preferred to the cigar shops, if you can afford the extra for coffee, &c. Never sit in a divan, for as these establishments are in imitation of foreign customs, so you should imitate the manners of foreigners, and be as unlike an Englishman as you can; you should therefore lie at full-length on the couches, or "loll" about in some graceful attitude. Should your time be entirely your own, you may remain in the divan the whole day, provided you play at chess; and should you be passionately fond of smoking, you can have smoke at breakfast—smoke at luncheon—smoke at dinner—smoke at tea—smoke at supper1838, Παιδἀγωγος [Paidagōgos], “Cigar divan”, in More Hints on Etiquette, 3rd edition, London: Charles Tilt, →OCLC, page 39:
2 more examples
- The cigar divans of the metropolis are essentially coffee-rooms, but they are of a distingué character, are more expensive in their charges, and more studied, elegant, and luxurious in their appointments and conveniences. […] They are elegantly furnished and appointed, with sofas, or cushioned chairs, numerous handsome tables, and chess and draft-boards. The whole of the London newspapers, and many of the provincial ones, are taken in; as are all the magazines and other periodicals; together with sundry of the French, Italian, and colonial journals. The freedom of the room is obtained by the liquidation of less than a shilling, which includes coffee of the best description, and cigars.1844, E. H. Malcolm, “London coffee-houses and their customers”, in Tegg's Magazine of Knowledge and Amusement, volume 1, →OCLC, page 67:
- [H]e asked her if there were any place near where he could get a cup of coffee. Though she did keep a shell-fish supper-house, she was very civil, and directed him to the cigar divan on the other side of the street. Mr. Harding had not a much correcter notion of a cigar divan than he had of a London dinner-house, but he was desperately in want of rest, and went as he was directed.1855 January 5, Anthony Trollope, “A Long Day in London”, in The Warden, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, pages 266–267:
- No person shall open, keep, manage or assist in the management of a divan where a dangerous drug is sold in the divan to be smoked, inhaled, ingested or injected therein; […](Can we date this quote?), “Divan keeping”, in Cap. 134 Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, section 35:
- During the operation, the Hong Kong Police Force conducted searches at about 1,700 locations, neutralising over 800 gambling dens, vice establishments, divans and unlicensed bars.2025 November 7, “4.1k arrested in anti-crime operation”, in news.gov.hk:
A collection of poems, especially one written by an author in Arabic or Persian.