Ottoman (furniture)

An ottoman is a piece of furniture.^[1] Generally ottomans have neither backs nor arms. They may be an upholstered low couch or a smaller cushioned seat used as a table, stool or footstool. The seat may have hinges and form a lid for the inside hollow, which can be used for storage of linen, magazines or other items, making it a form of storage furniture.^[2][3] The smaller version is usually placed near to an armchair or sofa as part of living room decor, or may be used as a fireside seat.^[4]

Ottoman footstools are often sold as coordinating furniture with armchairs, sofas or gliders. Other names for this piece of furniture include footstool,^[5] hassock,^[6] pouf (sometimes spelled pouffe),^[7][8] in Shropshire, England, the old dialect word tumpty,^[9] and in Newfoundland humpty.^[10]