triclinium

American  

[trahy-klin-ee-uhm] / traɪˈklɪn i əm /

noun

Roman History.

PLURAL

triclinia

1. a couch extending along three sides of a table, for reclining on at meals.

2. a dining room, especially one containing such a couch.

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triclinium British  

/ traɪˈklɪnɪəm /

noun

1. an arrangement of three couches around a table for reclining upon while dining

2. a dining room, esp one containing such an arrangement of couches

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Etymology

Origin of triclinium

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin trīclīnium, from Greek triklī́nion, diminutive of tríklīnos “having three couches (adjective), dining room so furnished (noun),” equivalent to tri- tri- + klī́n(ē) “couch” ( clinic ) + -ion diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

Elsewhere is a reconstitution of a dining room, or “triclinium,” in which wealthy Romans reclined on a three-sided masonry couch at meal times.

From New York Times

The Latin word for dining room, triclinium, derives from the three sofas that typically accommodated reclining Roman diners.

From The Wall Street Journal

Still, I think it would have been pleasant to banquet here, on some triclinium, reclining after the antique fashion, and waited upon by slaves according to the style of Lucullus or Trimalchio.

From Project Gutenberg

The first of these is the famous mosaic of the Lateran triclinium, constructed by Pope Leo III., about A.D.

From Project Gutenberg

Other rooms round the court were the triclinium, or dining room, and cubicula or bedchambers.

From Project Gutenberg