Bunks

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /bʌŋks/

Definitions

1. A structure consisting of multiple beds placed one above the other to accommodate more people in limited space
2. Sleeping places built in tiers, commonly found in settings like hostels, camps, or barracks for compact lodging
3. Beds arranged vertically in tiers to save space in dormitories or camps

Etymology: "Bunks" is the plural of "bunk," and the word's sleeping sense has a murky past. Its likeliest ancestor is the Scottish "bunker," meaning a seat or bench, whose origin is itself uncertain but may be Scandinavian. An Old Swedish cousin, "bunke," referred to boards that protected a ship's cargo, and the link between a bench and a bed built into a ship's wall is easy to picture. The word may also be related to "bunch." Plural "bunks" follows the regular noun pattern, so the form itself raises no questions; the interest lies in how the singular picked up its sleeping sense. Scottish "bunker" meant a fixed seat, and a ship's built-in berth is essentially a seat turned into a place to lie down.

Synonyms: beds, sleepers

Antonyms: chairs