bedspace

English

Etymology

From bed +‎ space.

Noun

bedspace (countable and uncountable, plural bedspaces)

1. (medicine, uncountable) Space available for patients in hospital beds or inmates in prison beds.
   • 1990 April 7, Jennie McKnight, “Suit Filed Against N.Y. Governor and Prison Officials”, in Gay Community News, page 12:

     She said Cuomo's call for 8,000 more bedspaces in New York prisons would cost the state $30,000 per prisoner per year.

   • 2013, Michael Bowman, The Professional Nurse: Coping with Change, Now and the Future:

     For example, the Patient's Charter requires nurses to respect the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of patients, yet planners still design bedspace divided by flimsy curtains, in multi-million pound projects.

2. (Philippines, countable) The use of a bed in a private home, often rented out by the month.

Derived terms

• bedspacer
• bedspacing