hammock

/ˈhæmək/

/ˈhæmək/

Other forms: hammocks

A hammock is a rope or canvas bed that hangs from a stand, two trees, or another support. You might enjoy reading a book while lying in a hammock under a shady tree.

Most people use hammocks to nap or relax, rather than sleeping in them all night, and many kids enjoy swinging back and forth in a hammock. In some cultures and special situations, hammocks have been used for regular sleeping — for example, hammocks were once commonly found on ships, providing sailors with easily portable beds. Hammock comes from the Spanish hamaca, a variation on the Taino hamaka, "fish nets."

Definitions of hammock

1. noun

   a hanging bed of canvas or rope netting (usually suspended between two trees); swings easily
   synonyms: sack

   type of:

   bed

   a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
2. noun

   a small natural hill
   synonyms: hillock, hummock, knoll, mound

   types:

   anthill, formicary

   a mound of earth made by ants as they dig their nest

   kopje, koppie

   a small hill rising up from the African veld

   molehill

   a mound of earth made by moles while burrowing

   type of:

   hill

   a local and well-defined elevation of the land