Harry at the Dursleys

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 118429


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Geoff Bannister"
<gbannister10 at a...> wrote:
> 
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" 
> <justcarol67 at y...> wrote:
> 
> Carol, wondering if "cot" is British for what we Americans call a crib
> 
> Geoff:
> A cot is normally a child's bed fitted with rails, one set of which 
> slide down to allow access. They are not far short of an ordinary 
> single bed in size and are also used for elderly folk or in hospitals 
> to prevent occupants from falling out.
> 
> A crib usually describes a small baby's bed, possibly small enough to 
> be carried around with the owners in residence.


Carol responds:
So a cot *is* what Americans call a crib (a child's bed with slide
down railings). The portable baby bed would be a bassinette, or at
least that's what it was called when I had occasion to think about the
matter. (Since prunes are now "dried plums" and "put to sleep" is now
"put down," I don't know what anything is called any more unless some
young person chides me for my ignorance and informs me of the
"correct" terminology.)

A cot in American English is (or was) a foldaway canvas bed with metal
or wooden supports, as in "army cot." Not a suitable bed for a
fifteen-month-old since he could easily climb out of it and toddle
around in the dark!

Carol