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A blanket is a type of bedding
Bedding

Bedding refers to the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for warmth. Bedding excludes the mattress, Box-spring and bed frame. Down materials are often used for warmth in bedding....
, generally speaking a large piece of cloth, intended to keep the user warm, especially while sleep
Sleep

Sleep is the natural state of bodily rest observed in humans and other animals. It is common to all mammals and birds, and is also seen in many reptiles, amphibians and fish....
ing. Blankets are distinguished from sheet
Bed sheet

A bed sheet is a large piece of cloth used to cover a mattress. It is this sheet that one typically lies on.In many areas of the world a second flat bed sheet is laid on top of the sheet covering the mattress....
s by their thickness and purpose; the thickest sheet is still thinner than the lightest blanket, because blankets are for warmth, while sheets are for hygiene, comfort and aesthetics.






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Lautrec in Bed 1893
A blanket is a type of bedding
Bedding

Bedding refers to the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for warmth. Bedding excludes the mattress, Box-spring and bed frame. Down materials are often used for warmth in bedding....
, generally speaking a large piece of cloth, intended to keep the user warm, especially while sleep
Sleep

Sleep is the natural state of bodily rest observed in humans and other animals. It is common to all mammals and birds, and is also seen in many reptiles, amphibians and fish....
ing. Blankets are distinguished from sheet
Bed sheet

A bed sheet is a large piece of cloth used to cover a mattress. It is this sheet that one typically lies on.In many areas of the world a second flat bed sheet is laid on top of the sheet covering the mattress....
s by their thickness and purpose; the thickest sheet is still thinner than the lightest blanket, because blankets are for warmth, while sheets are for hygiene, comfort and aesthetics. Blankets are subdivided into many types, including quilt
Quilt

A quilt is a type of bedding? a bed covering composed of a quilt top, a layer of Batting , and a layer of fabric for backing, generally combined using the technique of quilting....
s, duvet
Duvet

A duvet is a type of bedding ? a soft flat bag traditionally filled with down feathers or feathers, or a combination of both and used on a bed as a blanket....
s, and comforter
Comforter

A comforter is a type of blanket. Comforters are intended to keep the user warm, especially during sleep, although they can also be used as mattress pads....
s, depending on their thickness, construction and/or fill material. Electric blanket
Electric blanket

An electric blanket is a blanket with an integrated Heating element device usually placed above the top bed sheet. Another variation of the electric blanket is the electric mattress pad, which is placed below the bottom bed sheet....
s are heated by electricity
Electricity

Electricity is a general term that encompasses a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena such as lightning and static electricity, but in addition, less familiar concepts such as the electromagnetic field and electromagnetic induction....
. Blankets were traditionally made of wool
Wool

Wool is the fiber derived from the specialized skin cells, called follicles, of animals in the Caprinae family, principally domestic sheep, but the hair of certain species of other Mammalia such as cashmere goat, llamas, rabbits and keeshonds may also be called wool....
 because of wool's warmth, breathability and natural fire-retardant properties, while sheets were made of cotton
Cotton

Cotton is a soft, staple fiber that grows in a form known as a boll around the seeds of the cotton plant a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas, India and Africa....
 or linen
Linen

Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
, which are less irritating to the skin. These days, synthetic fiber
Synthetic fiber

Synthetic fibers are the result of extensive research by scientists to improve upon naturally occurring animal and plant. In general, synthetic fibers are created by forcing, usually through extrusion, fiber forming materials through holes into the air, forming a thread....
s are frequently used for both. Throw blankets are smaller blankets, often in decorative colors and patterns, that can be used for extra warmth outside of bed.

Etymology

The name is derived from Anglo-French blankete, from blanc, "white".

Use as a ground cloth


Blankets may also be used on the ground
Soil

Soil is the naturally occurring, unconsolidated or loose covering on the Earth's surface. Soil is composed of particles of broken rock that have been altered by chemical and environmental processes including weathering and erosion....
 for a picnic
Picnic

In contemporary usage, picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance, and usually in Summer....
 or other places where people want to sit in a grassy or muddy area without soiling their clothing. Temporary blankets have been designed for this purpose, although their inherent wastefulness is a chief concern of several environmental groups.

Use in firefighting

Specialized blankets known as fire blanket
Fire blanket

A fire blanket is a safety device designed to extinguish small incipient fires. It consists of a sheet of fire retardant material which is placed over a fire in order to smother it ....
s may be used by firefighter
Firefighter

Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car accidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations....
s to protect furnishings from water damage during firefighting. Firefighters often wear specialized variants of the fire blanket to protect themselves as well.

Use in moving of household goods

Thick quilted and durable blankets are used as protective covers and cushioning when furnishings are moved.

Use in horse care

A warming coat for a horse is called a horse blanket
Horse blanket

A horse blanket or rug is a blanket or animal coat intended for keeping a horse warm or otherwise protected from wind or other elements....
, intended to prevent the development of a shaggy winter coat of hair. A small saddle blanket
Saddle blanket

File:Saddle Bl. 1870.jpgA saddle blanket is a blanket which is inserted under a saddle in order to absorb sweat, cushion the saddle, and protect the horse's back....
 protects the horse's skin from chafing by the pressure points of a saddle
Saddle

A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider or other load, fastened to an animal's back by a girth . The most common type is the equestrian saddle designed for a horse, but specialized saddles have been created for camels and other creatures....
.

Use in keeping heat within the body

To keep warmth inside the body, a blanket can be used to cover one's skin and keep the warmth in. Many kinds of blankets, such as wool
Wool

Wool is the fiber derived from the specialized skin cells, called follicles, of animals in the Caprinae family, principally domestic sheep, but the hair of certain species of other Mammalia such as cashmere goat, llamas, rabbits and keeshonds may also be called wool....
 are used because they are thicker and have more substantial fabric to them, but cotton
Cotton

Cotton is a soft, staple fiber that grows in a form known as a boll around the seeds of the cotton plant a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas, India and Africa....
 can also be used for light blankets.

See also

  • Blanket fort
    Blanket fort

    A blanket fort is a construction commonly made by children, using blankets, bed sheets, pillows, and sofa cushions. A blanket fort is also sometimes referred to as a couch fort or pillow fort....
  • Bed
  • Hudson's Bay point blanket
    Hudson's Bay point blanket

    A Hudson's Bay point blanket is a type of wool blanket traded by the Hudson's Bay Company in western British North America and the United States during the 18th century and 19th century....
  • Duvet
    Duvet

    A duvet is a type of bedding ? a soft flat bag traditionally filled with down feathers or feathers, or a combination of both and used on a bed as a blanket....
  • Comforter
    Comforter

    A comforter is a type of blanket. Comforters are intended to keep the user warm, especially during sleep, although they can also be used as mattress pads....
  • Sleeping bag
    Sleeping bag

    A sleeping bag is a protective "bag" for a person to sleep in, essentially a blanket that can be closed with a zipper or similar means, and functions as a bed in situations where it is impractical to carry around a full bed ....
  • Security blanket
    Security blanket

    A security blanket is any familiar object whose presence provides comfort or security to its owner, such as the literal blankets often favoured by small children....
  • Horse blanket
    Horse blanket

    A horse blanket or rug is a blanket or animal coat intended for keeping a horse warm or otherwise protected from wind or other elements....