flap seat

plural flap seats

1. A hinged seat that can be raised when not in use.

   1973, Raymond Harold Sawkins (as Colin Forbes), Target Five, New York: Dutton, Chapter 14, p. 191, Behind the [helicopter] pilot Kramer clung nervously to the flap seat he was perched on: he hated flying, and this had been a very rough ride.

   4 more examples

   And be it enacted that […] no person […] presume to wish to go out for ginger-beer or oysters between the acts, to the annoyance of the nine rows of audience behind him, and the especial discomfiture of the fat old gentleman with the child on his knees, who sits on the flap-seat by the box-door.

   1843, Albert Richard Smith, “The Bureau Drawer”, in The Wassail-Bowl, volume 1, London: Richard Bentley, pages 115–116

   Entering the vast edifice, capable of seating many thousands of people, you are directed, if a stranger, to sit on a flap-seat attached to the end of the regular pews in the aisle until the owners or usual occupants are all seated, and then shown to your place.

   1889, George H. Luce, chapter 3, in Our Pilgrimage, Milwaukee: Young Churchman, page 93

   The taxi got too tight. Ray’s knees jammed sideways by Leopold’s suitcase, which had been moved to let down the flap seat, bulked between the children;

   1935, Elizabeth Bowen, The House in Paris, New York: Vintage, published 1957, Part 3, Chapter 4, p. 239

   One [door] was open, revealing a grey metal box of a room equipped with a prison-style hole-in-the-floor toilet, a hinged plastic flap seat where he piled his clothes, and a dingy hospital bed with one threadbare blanket.

   2003, Sue Rann, chapter 5, in Looking for Mr Nobody, Harpenden: No Exit, page 63

   Synonyms: folding seat, tip-up seat

2. A flap on the part of an undergarment or night garment that covers the buttocks.

   They wrapped themselves up to their eyes in thick sweaters, heavy shirts, wool socks and long union suits with flap seats.

   1970, Winston M. Estes, chapter 9, in Another Part of the House,, New York: Avon, published 1978, page 129

   2 more examples

   After several minutes, Liebknecht stood barefoot in a suit of long winter underwear. Some of its buttons were missing and the flap seat was baggy from too much laundering.

   1954, Ben Hecht, A Child of the Century, New York: Simon and Schuster, Book 4, p. 273

   Grant put on an oversized flannel nightshirt and fuzzy elephant slippers. Asa had baggy red footies with a flap seat. Even Patty wore old pj’s.

   1988, Norma Fox Mazer, chapter 19, in Silver, New York: Avon, published 1989, page 107