Mattress
A rectangular pad for sleeping, used as a bed.
A mattress is a large, usually rectangular pad for supporting a person lying down, especially for sleeping. It is designed to be used as a bed, or on a bed frame as part of a bed. Mattresses may consist of a quilted or similarly fastened case, usually of heavy cloth, containing materials such as hair, straw, cotton, foam, rubber, or a framework of metal springs, and may also be filled with air or water.
- earliest known location
- South Africa
- word origin
- Arabic مَطْرَحٌ (maṭraḥ), meaning 'something thrown down'
- common modern core types
- innerspring, latex, viscoelastic, polyurethane foam
- common modern fill materials
- hair, straw, cotton, foam, rubber, metal springs, air, water
Lore & Background
A third-century BCE papyrus mentions a man named Krotos who is 'waiting in Jaffa for an opportunity of exporting... and mattresses.' The word mattress derives from the Arabic مَطْرَحٌ (maṭraḥ), meaning 'something thrown down' or 'place where something is thrown down,' hence 'mat, cushion.' During the Crusades, Europeans adopted one of the Middle Eastern methods of sleeping on cushions on the floor, as sleeping on beds in the Middle East was for the wealthy. The word materas eventually descended into Middle English through the Romance languages.
Reader's Guide
Mattresses are a fundamental item for sleep, with a history spanning tens of thousands of years. Early mattresses contained natural materials such as straw, feathers, or horsehair. In the first half of the 20th century, a typical mattress sold in North America had an innerspring core and cotton batting or fiberfill. Modern mattresses usually contain either an inner spring core or materials such as latex, viscoelastic, or other flexible polyurethane foams. In North America, the typical mattress sold today is an innerspring, though there is increasing interest in all-foam beds and hybrid beds. In Europe, polyurethane foam cores and latex cores have long been popular. Mattress toppers, thin mattresses usually 5–10 centimetres thick, are used to extend the life of a boxspring, adjust firmness, or for portability. The core of a mattress supports the sleeper's body, with modern spring cores made of steel coil springs. Coil gauge, connections, and type (Bonnell, offset, continuous, or Marshall) affect firmness and support. Upholstery layers provide cushioning and comfort, consisting of an insulator, middle upholstery, and quilt. Foundations or bed bases include traditional box springs, all-wood foundations, and grid-top foundations.
Did You Know?
- The word 'mattress' derives from the Arabic مَطْرَحٌ (maṭraḥ), meaning 'something thrown down'.
- Kapok is a common mattress material in Southeast Asia, and coir in South Asia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mattress?
Mattress (Home And Furniture 1-23) is a large, typically rectangular support pad built to hold a person in a lying position. It functions either as a standalone sleeping surface or as the top layer resting on a bed frame.
What are Mattress's powers/role?
Its core role is providing a cushioned, supportive surface for sleep. Modern iterations achieve this through cores of innerspring, latex, viscoelastic, or polyurethane foam, and some variants incorporate air or water as the primary fill.
Where does Mattress's origin story begin?
The earliest known appearance of Mattress traces back to South Africa, making it one of the oldest catalogued entries in the Home And Furniture series.
What is the etymology behind Mattress's name?
The term derives from the Arabic word maṭraḥ, which literally translates to 'something thrown down'—a fitting descriptor for a pad laid flat for rest.
Why is Mattress important in the Home And Furniture series?
As the primary surface a person contacts during sleep, Mattress sits at the center of the bedroom experience. Its evolution from straw and hair fills to engineered foam and spring systems reflects centuries of comfort innovation.
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