hammock
UK[ˈhæmək]US[ˈhæmək]
n
a type of bed made from a net or from a piece of strong cloth, suspended by cords at each end
Etymology
the word 'hammock' entered english in the mid-16th century from the spanish 'hamaca'. the spanish term was itself borrowed from the taino language of the caribbean, where it referred to a fishing net and, by extension, a suspended sleeping net. european explorers encountered this practical item among the indigenous peoples of the west indies and brought both the object and its name back to europe. the spelling was gradually anglicized from 'hamaca' to 'hammock', solidifying its place in english as the term for a hanging bed.
Analysis
this word is a loanword adopted as a simplex unit. it does not contain separable morphemes within modern english spelling.
Examples
he strung a hammock between two palm trees for an afternoon nap.
the gentle rocking of the hammock helped her fall asleep quickly.
many sailors traditionally slept in hammocks to save space on ships.