Hammock

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈhæmÉ™k/

Origin

From Spanish hamaca, from Taino. Columbus, in the narrative of his first voyage, says: “A great many Indians in canoes came to the ship to-day for the purpose of bartering their cotton, and hamacas, or nets, in which they sleep.”

Full definition of hammock

Noun

1. A swinging couch or bed, usually made of netting or canvas about six feet wide, suspended by clews or cords at the ends.
• 1638 Herbert, Sir Thomas Some years travels into divers parts of Asia and Afrique...the poore Å¿aylers, who...commonly get forthwith into their beds (or hamackoes) reÅ¿ting their tyred bodies...
2. (US, archaic) A piece of land thickly wooded, and usually covered with bushes and vines.

Derived terms

• hammock nettings (Nautical) formerly, nets for stowing hammocks; later, more often, wooden boxes or a trough on the rail, used for that purpose.