A hammock is a hanging bed made from cloth or woven rope, suspended between two points like trees or posts. Instead of lying on a flat surface, you lie in a gentle curve that rocks slightly when you move. The fabric or netting holds your weight while you swing gently in the breeze.

Hammocks originated with indigenous peoples in Central and South America over a thousand years ago. They discovered that sleeping suspended off the ground helped keep them away from snakes, insects, and dampness. European sailors adopted hammocks for their ships because they took up little space and swayed with the boat's motion, making sleep easier at sea.

Today people use hammocks for relaxation and camping. Setting up a hammock is simple: you tie or hook each end to something sturdy, making sure it hangs low enough in the middle that you won't touch the ground. Many people find that lying in a hammock slightly diagonal rather than straight along its length flattens it out and makes it more comfortable.

The word hammock is sometimes used to describe the lazy, peaceful feeling of swinging gently in one on a warm afternoon, reading a book while the world passes by.