A fabric cover that you slip a pillow into to keep it clean and protected.
Compound word from 'pillow' (from Old English pyle, related to Latin pulvinus meaning cushion) and 'case' (from Old Norse kasi, a container). Combined to describe the covering for a pillow.
Before pillowcases became standard bedroom items in the Victorian era, pillows were often just left bare—the invention of decorative pillowcases was actually a major development in domestic cleanliness and comfort.
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