hope chest

noun

: a young woman's accumulation of clothes and domestic furnishings (such as silver and linen) kept in anticipation of her marriage
also : a chest for such an accumulation

Examples of hope chest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While the tradition of a hope chest has its roots thousands of years ago, cedar became the material du jour thanks to its insect-repelling qualities. Heather Bien, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2024 My grad school dissertation explored hope chests and wedding traditions among Turkish women. Ayla Samli, Longreads, 14 May 2024 The only item that appeared to be missing was a .357-caliber pistol Jean kept in her hope chest. Dateline Nbc, NBC News, 6 Dec. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hope chest was in 1911

Dictionary Entries Near hope chest

Cite this Entry

“Hope chest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hope%20chest. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on hope chest

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!