The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

'Etagere \['E]`ta`g[`e]re"\, n. [F., fr. ['e]tager to arrange on
   shelves, fr. ['e]tage story, floor. See Stage.]
   A piece of furniture having a number of uninclosed shelves or
   stages, one above another, for receiving articles of elegance
   or use. --Fairholt.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

etagere
    n 1: a piece of furniture with open shelves for displaying small
         ornaments