Definition

Noun: A simple, hard bed consisting only of wooden boards, lacking any mattress or soft padding. Historically, this type of bed was often used in prisons, military barracks, or other austere settings.

Usage

The term "plank-bed" is a compound noun. It is used to describe a specific, uncomfortable type of bed. It is not commonly used in modern, everyday English but may appear in historical, literary, or descriptive contexts.

Examples

• The old prison cell contained nothing but a cold plank-bed and a bucket.
• In the monastery, the monks slept on simple plank-beds as part of their ascetic lifestyle.
• The soldiers complained about the hard plank-beds in the barracks.

Advanced Usage

The term can be used metaphorically to describe any situation of extreme discomfort or austerity. * After losing his fortune, sleeping on his friend's sofa felt like a plank-bed compared to his old king-sized mattress.

Variants and Related Words

• Plank (noun): A long, flat piece of timber, thicker than a board.
• Truckle-bed / Trundle bed (noun): A low bed on wheels that can be stored under a larger bed. (Note: This is a different type of simple bed).
• Pallet (noun): A thin, hard mattress or a makeshift bed on the floor.

Synonyms

• Hard bed
• Board bed
• Bare boards

Antonyms

• Feather bed
• Four-poster bed
• Mattress
• Soft bed

Noun

1. a bed of boards (without a mattress)