An ottoman is a piece of furniture consisting of a padded, upholstered seat or bench having neither back nor arms, often used as a stool or footstool, or in some cases as an improvised coffee table. Ottomans are often sold as coordinating furniture with armchairs or gliders.
An ottoman can also be known as a footstool, tuffet, hassock, bisset, or pouffe.[1] Some ottomans are hollow and used for storage.
The word ottoman was introduced into English in the "footstool" sense in 1806 (probably from the identical French word, which also denotes a type of textile fabric), because the ottoman's typical use in a reclining position was associated in Europe with the Orient, in line with fashionable Turkish style.
The shape of the first footstools called ottomans were cylindrical and tall, similar to the distinctive tall and round hats of Ottoman government officials. Beyond the 18th century, use of ottoman furniture became common in upper middle class families in western Europe.