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