| a piece of furniture consisting of a set of drawers in a frame set on short legs, or feet, for holding clothing, household linens, etc. |
| chest of drawers n. pl. chests of drawers A piece of furniture consisting of a set of drawers that fit within a frame. |
chest of drawers
type of furniture developed in the mid-17th century from a chest with drawers in the base. By the 1680s the "chest" was entirely made up of drawers: three long ones of varying depth, topped by two short ones side by side. Sometimes a flat slide with two small pull handles was included at the top, to extend the table space. Early chests of drawers were mounted on bun or ball feet or on stands with legs joined by stretchers. Drawer pulls were initially of turned wood and later of brass, with ornamental brass shields, or escutcheons, that varied in design with the fashion. Double chests, or chest-on-chests, once known as tallboys in England and highboys in America, were also made.
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