A seat is a place to

sit Sitting is a List of human positions, basic action and resting position in which the body weight is supported primarily by the bony ischial tuberosities with the buttocks in contact with the ground or a horizontal surface such as a chair seat, ...

. The term may encompass additional features, such as back, armrest,

head restraint Head restraints (also called headrests) are an automotive safety feature, attached or integrated into the top of each car seat, seat to limit the rearward movement of the adult occupant's head, relative to the torso, in a Traffic collision, col ...

but may also refer to concentrations of power in a wider sense (i.e "

seat (legal entity) In legal English and in rules applicable elsewhere, the seat of an organisation is the centre of authority. Commercial The seat of a corporation is the publicly-registered headquarters, or the registered office of a corporate entity. Also refe ...

"). See disambiguation.

Types of seat

The following are examples of different kinds of seat: * Armchair, a chair equipped with armrests *

Airline seat An airline seat is a seat on an airliner in which passengers are accommodated for the duration of the journey. Such seats are usually arranged in rows running across the airplane's fuselage. A diagram of such seats in an aircraft is called an ...

, for passengers in an aircraft * Bar stool, a high stool used in bars and many houses * Bench, a long hard seat *

Bicycle seat A bicycle seat, unlike a bicycle saddle, is designed to support the rider's buttocks and back, usually in a semi-reclined position. Arthur Garford is credited with inventing the padded bicycle seat in 1892, and they are now usually found on recumbe ...

, a saddle on a bicycle *

Car seat A car seat is a seat used in automobiles. Most car seats are made from inexpensive but durable material in order to withstand prolonged use. The most common material is polyester. Bucket seat and bench seat A bucket seat is a separate seat ...

, a seat in an automobile *

Cathedra A ''cathedra'' is the throne of a bishop in the early Christian basilica. When used with this meaning, it may also be called the bishop's throne. With time, the related term ''cathedral'' became synonymous with the "seat", or principa ...

, a seat for a bishop located in a cathedral *

Chair A chair is a type of seat, typically designed for one person and consisting of one or more legs, a flat or slightly angled seat and a back-rest. It may be made of wood, metal, or synthetic materials, and may be padded or upholstered in vario ...

, a seat with a back * Chaise longue, a soft chair with leg support *

Couch A couch, also known as a sofa, settee, chesterfield, or davenport, is a cushioned piece of furniture that can seat multiple people. It is commonly found in the form of a bench with upholstered armrests and is often fitted with springs a ...

, a long soft seat *

Ejection seat In aircraft, an ejection seat or ejector seat is a system designed to rescue the aircraft pilot, pilot or other aircrew, crew of an aircraft (usually military) in an emergency. In most designs, the seat is propelled out of the aircraft by an exp ...

, rescue seat in an aircraft *

Folding seat A folding seat is a seat that folds away so as to occupy less space. When installed on a transit bus, it makes room for a wheelchair or two. When installed on a passenger car, it provides extra seating. In churches, it may have a projection cal ...

* Hard seat *

Infant car seat A child safety seat, sometimes called an infant safety seat, child restraint system, child seat, baby seat, car seat, or a booster seat, is a seat designed specifically to protect children from injury or death during vehicle collisions. Most co ...

, for a small child in a car * Jump seat, auxiliary seat in a vehicle * Pew, a long seat in a church, synagogue, or courtroom *

Saddle A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider of an animal, fastened to an animal's back by a girth. The most common type is equestrian. However, specialized saddles have been created for oxen, camels and other animals. It is not know ...

, a type of seat used on the backs of animals, bicycles, lap etc. * Sliding seat, in a rowing boat *

Sofa A couch, also known as a sofa, settee, chesterfield, or Davenport (sofa), davenport, is a cushioned piece of furniture that can seat multiple people. It is commonly found in the form of a bench (furniture), bench with Upholstery, upholstered ...

, alternative name for couch * Stool, a seat with no armrests or back *

Throne A throne is the seat of state of a potentate or dignitary, especially the seat occupied by a sovereign (or viceroy A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory ...

, a seat for a monarch *

Train seat A train seat is a seat used in a passenger train's passenger railroad car allowing passengers to sit during their travels. Features and amenities A train seat design has a seat base height, seating angle, seat depth (the distance from ...

, a seat used in trains *

Wheelchair A wheelchair is a mobilized form of chair using two or more wheels, a footrest, and an armrest usually cushioned. It is used when walking is difficult or impossible to do due to illnesses, injury, disabilities, or age-related health conditio ...

, a movable seat intended for disabled people

Etymology

The word seat comes from Middle English ''sete'', Old English ''gesete''/''geseten'' and/or ''sǣte'' seat, ''sittan'' to sit. Possibly related to or cognate with Old Norse ''sæti''. The first known use of the word seat is in the 13th century.

Ergonomics

For someone seated, the 'buttock popliteal' length is the horizontal distance from the rearmost part of the

buttocks The buttocks (: buttock) are two rounded portions of the exterior anatomy of most mammals, located on the posterior of the pelvic region. In humans, the buttocks are located between the lower back and the perineum. They are composed of a lay ...

to the back of the

lower leg The leg is the entire lower limb (anatomy), limb of the human body, including the foot, thigh or sometimes even the hip or Gluteal muscles, buttock region. The major bones of the leg are the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), and adjacent f ...

. This

anthropometric Anthropometry (, ) refers to the measurement of the human individual. An early tool of physical anthropology, it has been used for identification, for the purposes of understanding human physical variation, in paleoanthropology and in various a ...

measurement is used to determine seat depth. Mass-produced chairs typically use a depth of .

References

{{Authority control Furniture de:Möbel#Sitzmöbel

Types of seat

Etymology

Ergonomics

See also

References