Coverlet

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkʌvə(ɹ)lɪt/

Definitions

1. A lightweight bedding accessory designed for aesthetic appeal while serving as a functional layer for warmth and comfort on a bed
2. A decorative and often quilted layer used primarily on beds to enhance both aesthetic quality and warmth
3. A thin quilted or woven covering placed over a bed to provide decoration and some warmth

Etymology: The English "coverlet" is a compound built from two French-derived parts. Its ancestor, Middle English "coverlite," came from the Anglo-Norman phrase "cuver-lit," where "cuvrir" meant "to cover" and "lit" meant "bed." Put together, the word is simply a thing that covers the bed, which is exactly what it still describes. The Anglo-Norman pairing shows how French-speaking England shaped everyday household vocabulary. "Lit" was the ordinary French word for bed, and it survives in English mainly in such compounds and in words borrowed from French usage. The shift from "coverlite" to "coverlet" came through the later spelling and sound changes of English, which reshaped many words of French origin. The word has a close relative in Catalan, "cobrellit," which follows the same pattern of covering plus bed. The parallel shows that the two languages independently built the same descriptive compound from the same materials.

Synonyms: bedspread, quilt, throw, blanket