Furniture: A Clarification

Drawer

A box-like container that slides into holes in larger pieces of furniture is called a drawer (plural: drawers).  You spell it with an ‘e’ and an ‘r’ following the ‘w’.

I understand this might be slightly confusing because drawers can also refer to what you can put into a drawer, since the pluralised word can also refer to undergarments.  Nevertheless, there is an ‘e’ and an ‘r’ in both of them.

Draw

A verb describing many things relating to a figurative or literal action. None of which are related to furniture or clothing.

While we’re on the subject…

Credenza

An item of furniture like a sideboard or buffet which is commonly used in a kitchen or dining area.  You can put food on it or store things in it.  In fact, the word credenza originates from Italian meaning ‘belief’ or ‘trust’.  It is related to the act of the tasting of food to ensure it isn’t poisoned before being served to important people.

These days, credenza can also refer to other sideboard-like furniture which may be used in office situations.  They still have the general form of a sideboard or buffet which is used in kitchen or dining situations.

They can refer to auxiliary storage in a meeting room or office located within easy reach of a meeting table or desk, or desk extensions to a primary desk.  Credenzas are not to be confused with a pedestal desk or pedestal drawers.

Pedestal Desk

A pedestal desk is comprised of a flat surface laid upon two pedestals.  The pedestals may be solid or consist of drawers (hence the term pedestal drawers) or similar storage.

Even if the pedestals and desktop are one piece, it is still called a pedestal desk.  Separate, it just makes them extra portable.

Pedestal Drawers

Narrow in comparison to a credenza or sideboard, these drawers can be placed under or beside freestanding desks or as a pedestal support for a pedestal desk.  They may stationary or be mounted on wheels which some call mobile pedestal drawers.  But they are still designated pedestals due to their shape and potential function.

A credenza is not a pedestal.