Meanings
nounbedstraw (countable and uncountable, plural bedstraws)
plural bedstraws
- countableuncountableAny plant of the genus Cruciata.
- countableobsoleteuncountableStraw placed into a bed.
Fleas breed principally of straw or mats, where there hath been a little moisture; or the chamber and bedstraw kept close and not aired
1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “VII. Century.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC
Origin
- Middle Englishbedstraw
- Englishbedstraw
From Middle English bedstraw, bedstrau, bedde-straw, equivalent to bed + straw.
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek γάλιον
- γάλιον (gálion)any plant of the herb genus Galium
Czech svízel
- svízelany plant of the herb genus Galium
Finnish matara
- mataraany plant of the herb genus Galium
German Labkraut
- Labkrautany plant of the herb genus Galium
Italian caglio
- caglioany plant of the herb genus Galium
Māori māwe
- māweany plant of the herb genus Galium
Polish przytulia
- przytuliaany plant of the herb genus Galium
Turkish yoğurtotu
- yoğurtotuany plant of the herb genus Galium
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
bedstraw. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bedstraw
MLA
“bedstraw.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bedstraw. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bedstraw,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bedstraw.
Source: bedstraw on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.