divan

Noun

divan (plural divans)

1. (historical) A Muslim council of state, specifically that of viziers of the Ottoman Empire that discussed and recommended new laws and law changes to a higher authority (the sultan).
2. The council chamber where this court is held; (by extension), any court of justice.
3. (archaic) Any council or assembly.
   • Startled at such an unaccountable event, they sat in close divan; and concluding that the case was in all respects unnatural and prodigious, desired that a messenger might be immediately dispatched for some male practitioner in the art of midwifery.1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC
   • As I passed, I called at the mad-house; where I found Mac Fane and the scowling keeper in high divan.1792, Thomas Holcroft, Anna St. Ives, vol. VII, letter 118
4. A couch or sofa-like piece of furniture made of a mattress lying against the wall and on either the floor or an elevated structure.
   • Eurydice pointed to the cupboard, and sat down on the low divan with folded hands, and looked at the floor.1932, Maurice Baring, chapter 20, in Friday's Business
5. (dated) An establishment that serves cigars and coffee, and may offer other amenities such as books, newspapers, and chess.
   • Near-synonym: smoking room
   • These are delightful places, and must be preferred to the cigar shops, if you can afford the extra for coffee, &c. Never sit in a divan, for as these establishments are in imitation of foreign customs, so you should imitate the manners of foreigners, and be as unlike an Englishman as you can; you...1838, Παιδἀγωγος [Paidagōgos], “Cigar divan”, in More Hints on Etiquette, 3rd edition, London: Charles Tilt, →OCLC, page 39

   Synonyms:

   smoking room

   1. (Hong-Kong, dated) A drug or cigarette den.
      • No person shall open, keep, manage or assist in the management of a divan where a dangerous drug is sold in the divan to be smoked, inhaled, ingested or injected therein; […](Can we date this quote?), “Divan keeping”, in Cap. 134 Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, section 35
      • During the operation, the Hong Kong Police Force conducted searches at about 1,700 locations, neutralising over 800 gambling dens, vice establishments, divans and unlicensed bars.2025 November 7, “4.1k arrested in anti-crime operation”, in news.gov.hk
6. A collection of poems, especially one written by an author in Arabic or Persian.