Hammock

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Hammock

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

HAM-uk  /ˈhæmək/

Definition

A bed made of canvas or rope mesh, suspended between two trees or supports by cords at each end; a hanging bed used especially outdoors.

Plain meaning

A hammock is the hanging bed — typically woven from rope or canvas — suspended between two trees or posts. You lie in it, suspended in the air, and it is one of the most universally pleasant things in life.

Register

Neutral and everyday. Hammock is used in leisure, outdoor, and naval historical contexts. It carries pleasant connotations of relaxation, tropical ease, and outdoor living. The image of lying in a hammock is one of the most universally invoked pictures of leisure.