'recliner' originates from the Latin word 'reclinare', where 're-' meant 'back' and 'clinare' meant 'to lean'.

'reclinare' transformed into the Old French word 'recliner', and eventually became the modern English word 'recliner'.

Initially, it meant 'to lean back', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a chair that allows one to lean back'.