A cover for the back or arms of a chair or sofa, etc., to prevent them from wear or from being soiled by macassar or other oil from the hair.

Piece of loose material draped over an upholstered chair back to protect it from stains from the users head. The term comes from macassar oil, a common hair dressing for men in the 19thC. Victorian antimacassars were commonly oh white crochet; they were preceded in the 18thC by silk versions that guarded against the powered wigs and greasy make-up of the Georgians.

a piece of ornamented cloth that protects the back of chair from hair oils