zedbed, n.

zedbed
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zedbed_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 2005

# zedbednoun

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zedbed mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zedbed. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

This word is used in British English.

### Where does the noun zedbed come from?

Earliest known use

1950s

The earliest known use of the noun zedbed is in the 1950s.

OED's earliest evidence for zedbed is from 1954, in the Irish Times.

### Nearby entries

1. zebrawood, n. 1768–
2. zebra woodpecker, n. 1884–
3. zebrina, n. 1846–
4. zebrine, adj. a1810–
5. zebroid, adj. & n. 1881–
6. zebrule, n. 1899–
7. zebu, n. 1771–
8. zecchino, n. 1572–
9. Zechstein, n. 1798–
10. zed, n. c1175–
11. zedbed, n.1954–
12. zedoary, n. Old English–
13. zedonk, n. 1961–
14. zee, n. 1580–
15. Zeelander, n. c1400–
16. Zeelandic, adj. 1802–
17. Zeelandish, adj. 1593–
18. Zeeman, n. 1897–
19. zeep, n. 1878–
20. zeep, v. 1886–
21. zeeping, adj. 1895–

## Meaning & use

Originally and chiefly British.

1. 1954–
   A type of occasional bed with a three-part metal frame which folds up for storage; (also more generally) any of various types of portable folding bed; cf. Z-bed n.
   A proprietary name in the United States.
   1. 1954

      > Their latest ‘convertible’ is the Zedbed, which costs 9½ guineas, and which will be in the shops within the next few weeks.

      Irish Times 6 May 8/3
   2. 1970

      > Double zedbed,..size 6 ft. 2 ins. × 3 ft. 10 ins. wide.

      Kay's Catalogue Autumn–Winter 654/2
   3. 2003

      > The zed-bed has been superseded by the sofabed and the futon because they double up as functional bits of furniture.

      Cabinet Maker (Nexis) 21 March 12
   British English
   1. trussing bed 1398–
   2. letacamp 1494–1574
      A camp-bed. Also attributive in letacamp-bed.
   3. trussing bedstead 1535–
   4. truss-bed 1541
      ? = trussing bed, n.
   5. field bed 1567–
      A portable or folding bed, originally for use by a soldier in the field; a camp bed. In later use also: a bed with an arched canopy and covered sides…
   6. camp-bed 1690–
      A bed or bedstead for use in field-service; hence spec. a bedstead made to fold up within a narrow space; a trestle bedstead.
   7. travelling bed 1706–
      A portable or folding bed used when travelling.
   8. camp cot 1785–
      = camp-bed, n.
   9. camp-bedstead 1825–
   10. stretcher-bed 1842–
   11. stretcher 1893–
       A folding bed or bedstead chiefly for camp or hospital use; also (chiefly Australian and New Zealand), a camp-bed used as a spare bed in a house…
   12. stretcher-bedstead 1895–
       A folding bed, chiefly for camp or barrack use (cf. stretcher, n. II.9).
   13. safari bed 1936–
       (Cf. camp-bed, n.).
   14. zedbed 1954–
       A type of occasional bed with a three-part metal frame which folds up for storage; (also more generally) any of various types of portable folding… A proprietary name in the United States.
   15. Z-bed 1973–
       A type of occasional bed with a three-part metal frame which folds up for storage; (also more generally) any of various types of portable folding…
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Forms

### Variant forms

Also with capital initial.

Originally published as part of the entry for zed, n.

zedbed, n. was first published in 2005.