A bed sheet is a rectangular piece of cloth or linen cotton used to cover a mattress. It is this sheet that one typically lies on.
In many areas of the world, a second flat bed sheet is laid on top of the sheet covering the mattress. This is known as a "top sheet" and when a top sheet is used, the sheet covering the mattress is known as a "bottom sheet". One sleeps between the two bed sheets. Blankets, comforters, and other bed covers are then placed on top of the second bed sheet.
The term bed sheet was first used in the 15th century.
Famous quotes containing the words bed and/or sheet:
“I have placed slippers very carefully under my bed, only to have them crawl out during the night to a position where I will step into them the wrong way round when leaping out of bed to answer the telephone.”
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)
“As many lies as will lie in thy paper, although the sheet were big enough for the bed of Ware in England.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)