What does bedroll mean?
A bedroll is a roll of bedding — typically a blanket, quilt, or similar covering — that can be tightly rolled, tied, and carried, then unrolled wherever the traveler needs to sleep. The term evokes outdoor life and itinerancy: cowboys on cattle drives, soldiers on campaign, hikers, and campers have all relied on bedrolls as simple, portable sleeping arrangements. Unlike a modern sleeping bag, which encloses the sleeper, a traditional bedroll is usually just rolled bedding, sometimes wrapped in a waterproof groundsheet or tarpaulin. In American English the word carries a distinctly rustic, historical connotation, calling to mind frontier life and military bivouacs, though it remains in use among campers and outdoors enthusiasts today. It is a concrete, countable noun whose plural is simply 'bedrolls.'
nounA roll of bedding, typically a blanket or sleeping bag, that can be carried and unrolled for sleeping outdoors or while traveling.
- A blanket or bedding rolled up for carrying and used for sleeping outdoors or while traveling.
- A portable bundle of bedding, sometimes with a waterproof cover, associated especially with soldiers, campers, and cowboys.
"The cowboy strapped his bedroll behind the saddle before riding out at dawn."
"After a long day on the trail, she spread her bedroll beside the campfire and fell asleep under the stars."
"Each recruit was issued a canvas bedroll to carry on the march."
Standard plural; used when referring to multiple rolls of bedding, e.g., issued to a group of soldiers or campers.
"The wranglers loaded the pack mules with provisions and bedrolls before dawn."
Before sleeping bags existed, cowboys and soldiers slept in bedrolls — and on long cattle drives, a cowboy's bedroll was often his only possession besides his horse.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bedroll
Bedroll is a straightforward English compound formed from 'bed' (Old English 'bedd') and 'roll,' referring to bedding rolled up for transport. Such compounds arose naturally in English as travel and military vocabulary developed, with the term well established by the nineteenth century in American usage, particularly in the context of cowboys and soldiers. Its components are native Germanic words, so it shares its roots not with Latin or Greek borrowings but with everyday Germanic vocabulary such as 'bedstead' and 'rollo'-type compounds.
How bedroll is actually used
The word has a somewhat old-fashioned or rustic flavor in American English, strongly associated with cowboys, soldiers, and camping; in modern usage 'sleeping bag' is more common for contemporary gear.
Easily confused with bedroll
A sleeping bag is an enclosed, insulated pouch for sleeping in, while a bedroll is bedding rolled up around the sleeper or carried as a bundle.