What does paillasse mean?
Paillasse is an uncommon noun with two related historical senses. Its literal meaning is a mattress or bed made from straw, a usage associated with simple, temporary, or poor sleeping arrangements. Figuratively, it can describe a contemptible or despicable person, especially someone regarded as insignificant, morally objectionable, or worthy of scorn. The word is rarely used in modern standard English and may sound dated, literary, or regional. When it appears today, it is often in older literature, dialect writing, or deliberately archaic contexts. The figurative meaning is considerably more emotionally charged than the literal one: a paillasse is not simply a bad person but someone whom the speaker treats as an object of contempt. The spelling paillasse is also encountered in the variant form paliasse.
A bed or mattress made of straw or similar material.
"A thin paillasse was spread near the fire."
Chiefly historical or dialectal; the literal sense is now uncommon in standard English.
A contemptible or despicable person.
"The pamphlet portrayed its opponent as a paillasse."
Strongly disparaging and now chiefly literary, dated, or dialectal.
The usual plural is paillasses, with the final e retained before the plural suffix.
"Several paillasses were arranged along the wall."
Paillasse turns an ordinary sleeping mat into a word associated both with humble quarters and with contempt for other people.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does paillasse come from?
Paillasse comes through French, where paillasse historically referred to a mattress filled with straw. The French word is related to paille, meaning straw, which derives from Latin palea, a word for straw or husk. The English term became established in a chiefly literal sense and later also acquired a figurative sense meaning a contemptible person.
How paillasse is actually used
The word is now uncommon and has a dated or dialectal tone. Its figurative sense is strongly disparaging and is usually used in formal or literary contexts rather than everyday speech.
Easily confused with paillasse
Paliasse is a variant spelling of paillasse; both words can denote a straw mattress and, figuratively, a contemptible person.