A traditional Indian bed consisting of a wooden frame with a woven rope or tape surface. It is lightweight, portable, and commonly used in rural areas.
From Hindi चारपाई (cārpāī), literally meaning 'four feet' from चार (cār) 'four' and पाई (pāī) 'foot' or 'leg'. The word entered English in the 19th century through British colonial contact with Indian domestic life. The bed's simple four-legged design makes the etymology transparent.
The charpoy is probably the world's most practical bed design - it's portable, naturally ventilated, and can be made entirely from local materials! British soldiers and administrators quickly adopted charpoys because they were cooler than European beds and could be easily moved to catch breezes or avoid insects.
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