Definition

Noun: - The framework of a bed: The structural part of a bed that supports the mattress and often includes the headboard, footboard, and side rails.

Usage

The word "bedstead" refers specifically to the bed's frame or skeleton. It is used to distinguish the supporting structure from the mattress, bedding, or the bed as a complete, furnished piece. - The antique oak bedstead was beautifully carved. - We need a new bedstead; the old metal one is squeaky and bent. - The mattress sat directly on the floor because they had removed the bedstead.

Advanced Usage

• "Four-poster bedstead": A bedstead with four vertical posts, one at each corner, often supporting a canopy.
  • The luxurious bedroom was dominated by a massive four-poster bedstead.

Variants and Related Words

• Bedframe (noun): A synonym for bedstead, often used interchangeably, though "bedframe" can sometimes imply a simpler, more modern design.
  • The bedframe arrived in a flat-pack box for easy assembly.

Synonyms

• Bed frame: The supporting framework for a mattress.
• Bed base: A structure that supports a mattress, which can be a bedstead or a simpler platform.

Related Terms (Not the Target Word)

• Headboard: The upright panel at the head of a bedstead.
• Footboard: The upright panel at the foot of a bedstead.

Noun

1. the framework of a bed