Deckchair

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A deckchair is a folding chair, usually with a frame of treated wood or artificial material (for protection against the weather) and a fabric or vinyl backrest and seat. It may have an extended seat, meant to be used as a leg rest, whose height may be adjustable. It may also have arm rests.

It is meant for leisure, originally on a cruise ship's deck, which explains the origin of its name. It is easily transportable and stackable. The classic deckchair can only be locked in one position. Later, the strips of wood going toward the back were lengthened and equipped with supports so that there were several possible sitting positions. A removable footrest can also add to the comfort of the user.

There are often deckchairs around the pools of hotels and they are coveted by the guests. Since there are not enough places for everyone interested in a deckchair, they are marked as occupied by the placement of a personal article, usually a towel, already in the early morning, even though the user does not show up until much later.^[1]

The available deckchair models range from simple wooden constructions to luxury models with electrically adjustable seating positions.

[edit] Usage

To "rearrange the deck chairs" is a popular saying meaning that things have changed only apparently. The phrase, "to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic" amplifies on it by implying that someone is overly concerned with unimportant minutiae during a crisis.

[edit] References

This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding German Wikipedia article as of January 9, 2008.