What does bedpost mean?
A bedpost is one of the upright posts that stand at the corners of a bed frame, supporting the structure and, on traditional designs such as four-poster beds, holding up a canopy. Bedposts range from plain functional timbers to elaborately carved columns of mahogany, brass, or oak, and they are often the most decorative element of an antique bed. The word also survives in the well-known idiom 'a notch on the bedpost', which refers to keeping a tally of romantic conquests — an expression said to derive from the old practice of literally cutting notches into a post to record such victories. Today the term appears mainly in descriptions of furniture, interior design, and period drama, where the bedpost evokes heritage craftsmanship and classic bedroom style.
nounOne of the four upright posts at the corners of a bed, supporting the frame or canopy; traditionally the taller posts at the head of the bed.
- An upright post at a corner of a bed frame, especially one supporting a canopy or headboard.
- Figuratively, in the idiom 'a notch on the bedpost', a tally of romantic or sexual conquests.
"The cat sharpened her claws on the carved mahogany bedpost."
"She hung her silk scarf over the ornate brass bedpost."
"He bragged about his conquests as if each were another notch on the bedpost."
Standard plural; typically used because most beds have four posts.
"The movers wrapped the bedposts in blankets to protect the carvings."
The idiom 'a notch on the bedpost' — once literally carving tallies into a real post — has kept this humble piece of bedroom furniture famous for centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bedpost
Bedpost is a straightforward English compound formed from 'bed' and 'post', with both elements rooted in Old English — 'bedd' meaning a sleeping place and 'post' borrowed from Latin 'postis' via Old French. The compound emerged as four-poster bed construction became common in medieval and early modern Europe. It shares its components with related furnishings vocabulary such as bedstead and headboard rather than deriving from any single classical root.
How bedpost is actually used
Mostly used in domestic and furniture contexts; its best-known figurative use is in the informal idiom 'a notch on the bedpost', which carries a boastful, sometimes disreputable connotation regarding sexual experience.
Easily confused with bedpost
Bedrock is the solid rock beneath soil (or a figurative foundation), whereas a bedpost is one of the vertical corner posts of a bed.