moses

IPA/ˈmeʊ.zɪz ˌbɑː.skɪt/
KK[mˈozəs]IPA/ˈmoʊ.zɪz ˌbæs.kət/

moses — noun

  • mosessingular
  • mosesesplural

1. a light basket-shaped bed for a newborn baby that can be carried from place to p

1.nounC1
Definition

a light basket-shaped bed for a newborn baby that can be carried from place to place

Example

Hana rocked the Moses basket gently while the baby drifted back to sleep.

collocation: rock the Moses basket

Reuben carried the Moses basket downstairs so the baby could nap nearby.

pattern: carry a Moses basket

Common collocations
  • Moses basket
  • rock the Moses basket
  • carry a Moses basket
  • woven Moses basket
  • Moses basket handles
Synonyms
  • bassinet

    a broader word for a small baby bed, not always basket-shaped or easy to carry

  • carrycot

    another portable baby bed, often used for travel systems rather than woven baskets

  • cradle

    a baby bed that often rocks, rather than one designed mainly to be carried

Grammar Patterns

sleep in a Moses basket

carry a Moses basket

put a baby in a Moses basket

Usage Note

Usually used in the phrase Moses basket, especially in British English. It names the small portable baby bed itself, not a larger crib or cot that stays in one place.

Common Mistakes

We bought a Moses for the baby.
We bought a Moses basket for the baby.
this item is usually named with basket, not Moses alone in ordinary use.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A Moses basket, a bassinet, a cradle, and a crib are all beds for babies, but they are not exactly the same. A Moses basket is the light, portable kind that you can lift and move around the house, often with handles. A bassinet is a broader word for a small baby bed and may stand on a frame instead of looking like a basket. A cradle usually rocks. A crib is larger, has fixed sides, and is often used for a longer time. If you want to stress that the bed is basket-like and easy to carry, Moses basket is the best choice. If you only mean a small baby bed in general, bassinet may fit better.

Moses basket ↗bassinet ↗cradle ↗crib ↗

Etymology

HebrewEnglish

This term comes from the Bible story in which the baby Moses was placed in a small basket on the river. In modern English, that image gave its name to a portable basket bed for a newborn. The word Moses keeps the biblical reference, while basket names the object's shape.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined above