Old Meaning of Bedding: What It Really Used to Mean

When people talk about bedding, the materials used on a bed for sleeping, including sheets, blankets, and pillows. Also known as bed linen, it today, most think of soft cotton sheets and fluffy duvets. But centuries ago, bedding wasn’t just about sleep—it was a symbol of wealth, a tool for protection, and sometimes even a coded signal. In medieval Europe, bedding was so valuable it was often listed in wills alongside silverware and livestock. A family’s bedding told others how much they owned, who they were married to, and even how they died—because bedding was washed, repaired, and passed down like heirlooms.

Back then, bedding wasn’t just what you slept on—it was what kept you alive. In cold climates, people layered wool, straw, and even animal hides under and over their bodies. A simple straw mattress was called a tick, stuffed with whatever was cheap and available. The top layer, often a heavy wool blanket, doubled as a cover during the day. In some regions, bedding was so thick you could barely move. And if you were rich? You had featherbeds, embroidered linens, and even silk curtains around your bed to block drafts and show off your status. Bedding was so important that in 17th-century England, servants were punished for stealing sheets. In colonial America, bedding was part of a bride’s dowry. It wasn’t just practical—it was personal.

Then there’s the slang meaning, a casual, often humorous or risqué term used in everyday speech. Also known as bedding slang, it you might have heard—like "bedding" meaning sex. That usage didn’t appear until the 19th century, mostly in British and Australian slang. It wasn’t about comfort anymore—it was about intimacy, secrecy, and sometimes shame. That’s why old diaries and letters sometimes mention "bedding" without explaining it—everyone knew what it meant. Today, you’ll find both meanings floating around: the practical kind in home goods stores, and the slang kind in pop culture. But the real history? It’s buried under layers of thread, dust, and time.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t just a list of articles—it’s a journey through how bedding changed from survival gear to status symbol to slang. You’ll see how people stored it, washed it, repaired it, and even hid it. You’ll learn why some cultures never used pillows, why medieval beds were raised off the floor, and how a single sheet could mean the difference between life and death. This isn’t about buying new sheets. It’s about understanding what they once carried—and why they still matter.