A small table or stand placed next to a bed, typically used to hold a lamp, books, or other personal items.
From bed + stand. 'Stand' comes from Old English 'standan' meaning to remain upright. The compound emerged as bedside tables became standard bedroom furniture in the Victorian era.
The bedstand reflects how sleeping spaces shifted from communal to private—having a personal table by your bed is a relatively modern luxury that shows how our idea of privacy evolved.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.