Pillowcase
/ˈpɪl.oʊ.keɪs/noun
A cloth cover for a pillow.
Did you know?In ancient cultures, pillows were thought to be linked to dreams and the afterlife, making the cases sacred possessions that protected our nightly journeys.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*(s)pel-
“to spread out, flatten (as in laying down) for rest.”
Old English
Old English
pyle
“a soft cushion or pillow.”
Old English
Old English
cæsce
“a case or cover.”
14th Century
Middle English
pilwecasse
“a case for a pillow, used to protect and hold it.”
Modern English
English
pillowcase
“a protective cover for a pillow, now common in households.”
Explore more surprising origins