kang

kang · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A traditional heated sleeping platform used in northern China and other parts of East Asia, consisting of a brick or clay bed built over flues through which smoke and hot air from a cooking stove or fireplace pass to provide warmth.

Forms

plural: kangs

Related words

See also: furnace, hearth, ondol
Synonyms: heated_bed, ondol

Etymology

From Mandarin Chinese 炕 (kàng, "heated bed, brick bed"). The kang has been used in northern China for over 2,000 years as an efficient heating system.