hammock

1 of 2

noun (1)

ham·​mock ˈha-mək How to pronounce hammock (audio)
: a swinging couch or bed usually made of netting or canvas and slung by cords from supports at each end

Illustration of hammock

Illustration of hammock
  • 1hammock

hammock

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
2
: a fertile area in the southern U.S. and especially Florida that is usually higher than its surroundings and that is characterized by hardwood vegetation and deep humus-rich soil

Examples of hammock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Admission is free and guests are welcome to traverse trails through hammock and sand pine scrub habitats. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025 There is also a new yoga pavilion near the river, while another platform offers space for wellness talks and experiences, such as the blissful Sacred Nap Ritual, during which a wellness mentor guides participants through a story while guests are blissfully cradled in silk hammocks. Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 31 Aug. 2025 The resort has 452 suites, and every single one comes with a private balcony and a hammock. Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025 Accommodations feature floor-to-ceiling windows and two-person hammocks on open-air verandas (four suites have private pools). Devorah Lev-Tov, AFAR Media, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hammock

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Spanish hamaca, from Taino

Noun (2)

earlier hammok, hommoke, humock; akin to Middle Low German hummel small height, hump bump — more at hump

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1626, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hammock was in 1556

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Cite this Entry

“Hammock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hammock. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

hammock

noun
ham·​mock
ˈham-ək
: a swinging couch or bed usually made of netting or canvas and slung by cords from supports at each end

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