Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A couch facing three sides of a rectangular table, used by the ancient Greeks, Etruscans, and Romans for reclining at meals.
  • noun A room containing such a couch or couches; a dining room.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Among the Romans, the dining-room where guests were received, furnished with three couches, which occupied three sides of the dinner-table, the fourth side being left open for the free ingress and egress of servants.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A couch for reclining at meals, extending round three sides of a table, and usually in three parts.
  • noun A dining room furnished with such a triple couch.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun historical A couch for reclining at mealtimes, extending round three sides of a table, and usually in three parts.
  • noun historical A dining room furnished with such a triple couch.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a dining room (especially a dining room containing a dining table with couches along three sides)
  • noun a dining table with couches along three sides in ancient Rome

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin trīclīnium, from Greek triklīnion, diminutive of triklīnos, room with three couches : tri-, three; see trei- in Indo-European roots + klīnē, couch; see klei- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Latin triclīnium, from Ancient Greek τρικλίνιον (triklinion).

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Examples

  • To the right of the triclinium is a very elegant chamber, and another, which you may call either a very large chamber (_cubiculum_), or moderate-sized eating-room (_cœnatio_), which commands a full prospect both of the sun and sea.

    Museum of Antiquity A Description of Ancient Life

  • Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei/Fotografica Foglia\ A bronze brazier Off the atrium, a nearly full complement of burnt-sienna and ocher walls was discovered in the triclinium , or dining room, of a country villa near Castellammare di Stabia; their frescoed panels portray Neptune carrying Amymone away on a galloping stallion, Dionysus and Ceres reclining on a seahorse skimming blue waters and a triumphal Dionysian procession led by a satyr.

    The Gracious Art of Living Judy Fayard 2011

  • She may even have been responsible for commissioning the unique design and decoration of the triclinium.66

    Caesars’ Wives Annelise Freisenbruch 2010

  • As we were quickly escorted through the frescoed rooms, we stopped in the triclinium – the dining room which had once seen so many famous faces smiling, laughing, even crying for mercy.

    Q&A and Giveaway with Michelle Moran Elizabeth Kerri Mahon 2009

  • As we were quickly escorted through the frescoed rooms, we stopped in the triclinium – the dining room which had once seen so many famous faces smiling, laughing, even crying for mercy.

    Archive 2009-09-01 Elizabeth Kerri Mahon 2009

  • This villa has an atrium, a courtyard containing a pool, a triclinium with views of the Bay of Naples, a colonnaded courtyard, and a private bath complex.

    2008 February 06 archive at eternallycool.net 2008

  • This villa has an atrium, a courtyard containing a pool, a triclinium with views of the Bay of Naples, a colonnaded courtyard, and a private bath complex.

    Adopt-a-Fresco from Stabiae at eternallycool.net 2008

  • Using Vitruvius, panelists will discuss the domus and insula of ancient Rome, then move to a discussion of the triclinium and Roman dining customs based on Martial.

    Archive 2005-09-01 2005

  • Using Vitruvius, panelists will discuss the domus and insula of ancient Rome, then move to a discussion of the triclinium and Roman dining customs based on Martial.

    ACTFL in Baltimore 2005

  • Also included in the exhibition are unusual stucco decorations from the Villa Petraro, an estate with a working farm, and the triclinium, or dining room, from the nearby Villa Carmiano.

    Museums: Vesuvian Villas 2004

Comments

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  • with room to roman (roam in) ??

    November 15, 2010

  • A Latin word essentially meaning “three couches,” a triclinium was a Roman dining room or dining table at which guests would not sit on individual seats or benches, but rather long couches, or chaises longues.

    January 9, 2018