Antimacasa

[Dollie]

Whats an antimacasa (antimacasser) don't know spelling. Word cropped up in a play recently on tv? thanks in anticipation.

[nickmo]

Think when the next time you sit on an airline seat or maybe a coach, and the little cloth thingy that your head rests on is missing you can call out 'Oi, where is my antimacasser?' to the stewards, and you will be handed one with pleasure.

Anti - fouling doily for furniture. Often crocheted - sometimes of paper and disposable rather than washable. Invented to protect the seat backs from hair dressings.

[Dollie]

Thanks ever so Nickmo.

[shaneystar2]

The Victorians loved antimaccassars as they loved to cover everything else , chair legs ,mantelpieces and so on.They were used primarily to prevent hair oil (Macassar oil) from spoiling the furnishings .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimacassar