bed n Cent ~ n 8 for sense 4.
   1 The foundation, floor, posts and beams of a fishing-stage; cpBALLAST n: BALLAST (BED); BEDDING.
   [1675] 1976 HEAD 18 Few stages remained; at John's in 1675 it was reported that only the bed of the admiral's stage had been left. P 148-61 Bed of [the] stage.
   2 The two heavy timbers on each side of the frame of a boat, joined across the bottom by a floor (P 127-75).
   T 16-64 You put a timber between each strip. You start at the forward one—the fore-hook, and you'll nail that one on the bottom. And then you will take the next one—that's the first bed aft the fore-hook.
   3 Logs placed under a boat to roll it into the water (P 245-56).
   4 In phr bed of ducks: a flock of wild fowl, densely packed in the water.
   [1771] 1792 CARTWRIGHT i, 185 I went over to White-fox Island, where I got a shot at a large bed of eider-ducks, and killed seven of them. 1868 HOWLEY MS Reminiscences 57 We did not come across any game till we reached the pond where the traps were set. This was literally filled with Black ducks all out in the middle closely huddled together, in what Billy terms a bed of ducks; they appeared to be asleep.
   5 Comb bed cabin: a wooden bed with interlaced rope attached to the frame to support the mattress (P 127-78).
   bed fly: wingless bug infesting houses, esp beds; bed-bug; (Cimex lectularius).
   1924 ENGLAND 313 ~s. Bedbugs; lice.
   bed rock: large beach stone, heated, wrapped in a cloth and used as a bed-warmer (Q 71-7).
   bed strip: decorative strip of cloth at head and foot of a bed.
   1972 MURRAY 197 In the old days, no bed was properly 'made' unless it had a 'bed strip' or 'valence' attached to the bed frame and going round the front and ends of the bed. This was a strip of white material, usually shirting, which was trimmed with handmade lace.

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