box spring
- noun
- /bɑks sprɪŋ/
- US
- The top mattress had been shifted partway off the box spring.
- box spring mattress
- box spring and frame
- new box spring
If it's just a box spring and a mattress straight.
- If it's just a box spring and a mattress straight.
Examples
-
I have a twin bed made up of a box spring and mattress.
Fiction book (1998) -
Do you have a box spring and mattress?
-
We bought the mattress and box springs.
Fiction book (1998) -
I purchased mattress covers as recommended on this site and covered his mattress and box spring.
Blog text (3) -
It's simply more affordable to acquire an air mattress than to acquire a standard box spring coil bed.
Blog text (20) -
-Oh, there's a nice bed, made of pure mahogany with a box spring and a mattress.
-
He bought a new mattress and box spring to replace the old one.
-
The box spring provides extra support for the mattress, ensuring a comfortable sleep.
-
Before sleeping, make sure the box spring is properly placed under the mattress.
Synonyms
A metal frame with springs that supports a mattress
How Supportive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently derived from 'box' (a framed container) + 'spring' (a coiled metal part): a framed/supporting structure that contains springs for a mattress. This follows a straightforward noun + noun composition common in furniture terms, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably infer the MWE's meaning without prior exposure.
Etymology
The term box spring comes from a simple, literal image: a box frame with metal springs inside that holds a mattress and gives it a springy base. So today box spring means 'a base that supports a mattress'.