Murphy bed

American  

noun

1. a bed constructed so that it can be folded or swung into a closet.

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Murphy bed British  

noun

1. a bed designed to be folded or swung into a cabinet when not in use

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Etymology

Origin of Murphy bed

1920–25; named after William L. Murphy (1876–1959), American inventor

Example Sentences

With limited economic resources, he began scouring online marketplaces to surround his Murphy bed with a cheap wooden table, a budget chandelier, battery-powered candles and modest wall sconces.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 4, 2024

The designer Annie Selke, for example, had California Closets install a Murphy bed in a home office at her vacation house in Palm Springs, Calif., which allowed the space to double as a guest room.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 12, 2024

And they have a whole community center and I got this little studio apartment there with a Murphy bed that folds out, and I think it was like $550.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2023

So the Mazureks added a Murphy bed — essentially a pull-down wall bed — to their living room, turning it into a space they could use as a bedroom at night.

From Washington Post • Dec. 13, 2022

Folaron has since graduated from nursing school and moved with her husband to a home in Tucson, Arizona, where she is once again considering adding a Murphy bed.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 30, 2022