c.1500, from Scottish, of uncertain origin, perhaps from Fr. s'allonger (paresseusement) "to lounge about, lie at full length," from O.Fr. alongier "lengthen," from L. longus "long." Another etymology traces it through obsolete lungis (n.) "slow, lazy person" (c.1560), from M.Fr. longis, a generic application of Longinus, supposed to be the name of the centurion who pierced Christ's side with a spear in John xix.34. Popular etymology associated the name with long (adj.). The noun in the sense of "comfortable drawing room" is first recorded 1881; in the sense of "couch on which one can lie at full length," 1830. Lounge lizard is from 1912, originally in reference to men who hung around in tea rooms to flirt.