From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
Fauteuil \Fau`teuil"\, n. [F. See Faldistory.]
1. An armchair; hence (because the members sit in fauteuils
or armchairs), membership in the French Academy.
[1913 Webster]
2. Chair of a presiding officer.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) :
fauteuil
n 1: an upholstered armchair