Definition

Noun: A small box or chest, typically with a lid, used by a child to store toys and personal belongings. Historically, this term was particularly associated with a box kept by a child at a boarding school to hold their personal items and playthings.

Examples of Usage

• The little girl kept her favorite doll and marbles in her wooden play-box.
• At the start of term, each student was assigned a play-box to store their personal effects.
• He opened the old play-box, releasing the familiar scent of childhood.

Advanced Usage

• The term play-box evokes a sense of personal, private ownership for a child, especially in a shared institutional setting like a boarding school. It implies a designated space for one's few personal treasures.

Variants and Related Words

• Toy box (n): A more common modern term for a container, often larger, used to store a collection of toys.
• Storage box (n): A general term for any box used for storing items.
• Chest (n): A larger, often more sturdy box with a lid, used for storage.

Synonyms

• Toy chest
• Storage box
• Locker (in a modern school context)
• Cubby (a small, open storage compartment)

Antonyms

• There are no direct antonyms, but the concept contrasts with shared space or common area.

Related Phrases

• "To put away in one's play-box": To store something carefully in one's personal space.
  • After finishing, she put the puzzle pieces away in her play-box.

Noun

1. a box for a child's toys and personal things (especially at a boarding school)