cot
UK[kɒt]US[kɑːt]
n
A small, narrow bed, especially one for a child or baby.
n
A small, simple bed, often with a frame that can be folded for storage or transport.
Etymology
The word 'cot' entered English in the 17th century from Hindi 'khāṭ', meaning a bedstead or hammock, which itself is derived from the Sanskrit 'khaṭvā'. This term was adopted into English during the period of British colonial presence in India, initially referring to the light, portable beds used there. The meaning narrowed in English to specify a small, simple bed, particularly one for an infant. Its journey from a Sanskrit term for a bed to a specific piece of nursery furniture in English illustrates how colonial contact shaped domestic vocabulary.
Analysis
The word 'cot' is a simplex word of Anglo-Indian origin. It is not productively formed from smaller, meaningful morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The newborn slept soundly in her wooden cot.
We need to assemble the new cot before the baby arrives.
He packed a folding cot for his camping trip.