A light wooden bed frame strung with rope or webbing, commonly used in South Asia, especially India and Pakistan.
From Hindi charpāī and Urdu چاربائی (charbai), from Sanskrit chatur (four) and paada (foot), literally 'four-foot.' This simple bed design has been used in South Asia for centuries and remains practical in warm climates.
The charpai is so efficient that it's basically unchanged for over 1,000 years—a four-legged frame that's cheaper than a mattress, lets air flow beneath you in hot weather, and can last decades! It's one of the best examples of design that's too perfect to improve.
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