A decorative cloth covering that is spread over a bed to cover the sheets and pillows.
From 'bed' (Old English 'bedd') + 'spread' (to extend over an area). This is a modern compound word, first appearing in the 1800s as bedrooms became more decorated and less purely functional.
The bedspread is a surprisingly recent invention—before the 1800s, people mostly just used blankets, but as the Industrial Revolution made cheap decorative fabrics available, the bedspread became a way to show off your wealth and taste!
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