Portemanteaus

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of large coat rack or stand with hooks, primarily used for hanging garments
2. An item of furniture designed to store and display outerwear and accessories
3. A fixture typically found in entryways for organizing coats and bags

Etymology: "Portemanteaus" is simply the plural of "portemanteau," so the story belongs to the singular. The noun comes from French, where "porte-manteau" means "coat-carrier," built from "porter" (to carry) and "manteau" (cloak or coat). The original object was a stand or rack for hanging garments, and the same compound was also used for a leather case that opened into two halves, which is why the sense of a travelling bag arose alongside it. The furniture sense the dictionary gives, a piece for storing and displaying outerwear and accessories, is the older, stationary use that the compound described from the start. English took the word from French, and the plural follows the usual English pattern of adding "s" to the end.

Synonyms: luggage, suitcases, bags, cases, trunks