Definition of "counterpane" [coun•ter•pane]

• A cover for a bed; a bedspread. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "A thin counterpane of blue check gave a rather pleasing finish."
• "September 24th, in the _Boston News Letter_, the word counterpane first appears."
• "The heavy cotton impervious counterpane is bad, for the very reason that it keeps in the emanations from the sick person, while the blanket allows them to pass through."