A shallow metal or plastic pan used in hospitals or homes to collect waste from people who cannot leave their beds.
Compound word: 'bed' from Old English 'bedd' plus 'pan' from Latin 'patina.' This practical medical device has been used since medieval times, though materials have improved.
The bedpan is proof that medical innovation isn't always glamorous—but it revolutionized hygiene and dignity for bedridden patients, preventing infection and disease.
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