sickbed

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the bed or bedside place occupied by a person who is ill

   She spent each evening at her father's sickbed, reading aloud to him.

2. 2
   noun

   a period or condition of illness that confines someone to bed

   From his sickbed, the editor continued to dictate letters to his staff.

From Middle English seke bed, a compound of sick + bed. The physical bed came to stand by metonymy for the period of illness spent in it, as in writing or giving instructions from one's sickbed.

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