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bedpost

American

[bed-pohst] / ˈbɛdˌpoʊst /

noun

one of the upright supports of a bedstead.
Bowling. bedposts, a split in which the seven and ten pins remain standing.

bedpost British

/ ˈbɛdˌpəʊst /

noun

any of the four vertical supports at the corners of a bedstead
informal confidentially; in secret

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bedpost

First recorded in 1590–1600; bed + post ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

bedpost

A single bird swoops into the sick room, landing on the bedpost.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 26, 2026

He was raised working-class in Salford, near Manchester, and first heard hints of the stateside musical revolution by pressing his ear to his bedpost on Sunday nights.

From New York Times ● May 10, 2023

Gretchen Catherwood keeps the cross her son was wearing on a chain around her bedpost with his dog tags.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 25, 2021

On the wall above the bedpost, a yellowed newspaper clipping detailed all of Jack Nicklaus' milestones: "First broke 70 at the age of 13 ... " Tiger was clicking them off one by one.

From Golf Digest ● May 6, 2020

I jumped out from behind the bedpost and ran like lightning towards the open door.

From "The Witches" by Roald Dahl

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023