hovedstolen

Hovedstolen is a Danish-language noun formed by hoved (head, main) and stolen (the chair). The term literally means "the main chair" or "the chair of the head." In everyday Danish, it is rarely used as an ordinary noun and tends to appear in two main senses.

First sense: the chairperson’s seat in a meeting or assembly; the position of presiding officer. In this sense, hovedstolen can refer to the physical chair or to the office itself, i.e., the authority of the chair.

Second sense: metaphorical or literary use to denote the seat of power or of governance, i.e., the throne, the central seat from which authority is exercised.

In furniture and design contexts, hovedstolen may be used descriptively to designate the main, centerpiece chair in a room or arrangement, often implying prominence.

Usage notes: In Danish, more common words for these ideas include formandstolen (the chair of the chairman) or "formandens plads" for the chairperson’s seat. The term hovedstolen is not common in everyday speech and may sound formal or poetic in many contexts.

Comparison: The same compound structure exists in other Scandinavian languages with similar meanings, though usage varies locally.

See also: throne, chair, seat of power, furniture.