Cot
“A lightweight, portable bed typically consisting of a canvas or fabric stretched over a folding metal or wooden frame.”
Synonyms by Register & Formality
Antonyms & Opposites
Nuance Analysis & Word Contrasts
While 'cot' primarily denotes a small, collapsible bed used for camping, emergencies, or military barracks (and historically a baby's crib in British English), it distinctly carries connotations of temporary, utilitarian, and spartan sleeping arrangements. Unlike a 'pallet' which may just be a mattress on the floor, a cot has a raised frame. Unlike a 'bunk', it is usually portable and standalone rather than built-in or stacked.
cot vs camp bed
In American English, 'cot' is standard; in British English, the same object is more commonly referred to as a 'camp bed', whereas 'cot' typically means a baby's crib.
cot vs pallet
A cot features a raised structural frame with stretched fabric, whereas a pallet is typically a crude, low mattress or pad laid directly on the floor.