truckle-bed
Definition
Noun: A low bed on wheels, designed to be stored under a larger bed when not in use, typically used for guests or children.
Usage Examples
- (A low bed stored under another bed.)
- (A small, movable bed for temporary use.)
Advanced Usage
- "To truckle to someone": This is a rare verb form derived from the same root, meaning to submit or yield obsequiously. However, note this is a separate word and not directly related to the noun "truckle-bed."
- He would not truckle to the demands of the tyrant. (He would not submit meekly.)
Variants and Related Words
Truckle (n): A small wheel or caster, often used on furniture.
- The bed had truckles that allowed it to roll smoothly. (Small wheels enabling movement.)
Trundle-bed (n): A synonym for "truckle-bed," referring to the same type of low, wheeled bed.
- The trundle-bed was stored under the master bed during the day. (Another name for a truckle-bed.)
Synonyms
- Trundle-bed: The most common synonym, used interchangeably.
- Rollaway bed: A similar bed on wheels, though often taller and not necessarily stored under another bed.
- Guest bed: A general term for a bed for visitors, which may include truckle-beds.
Related Idioms
- "To bed down": To settle into a place to sleep, often used with temporary beds like a truckle-bed.
- The children bedded down on the truckle-bed in the study. (They settled to sleep on the temporary bed.)
Note: The verb "truckle" (to submit) is etymologically distinct from "truckle-bed" (from Latin "trochlea," meaning pulley or wheel), though both share the same spelling.