moses: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Obsolete/Archaic/Dialectal)Historical, Dialectal (chiefly UK), Literary/Archaic
Quick answer
What does “moses” mean?
A large wicker basket, traditionally used for laundry or as a cradle.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large wicker basket, traditionally used for laundry or as a cradle.
Primarily an archaic or dialectal British English term for a large, oblong, hooded clothes-basket or a kind of hamper. Historically, it could refer to a wicker cradle, notably in the idiom "in the moses" meaning in infancy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is exclusively British (dialectal/archaic). It has no current usage or historical presence in American English.
Connotations
In the UK, it evokes a sense of antiquity, rural life, or historical domesticity.
Frequency
Virtually zero frequency in modern corpus data for both varieties, but has a trace presence in historical UK texts.
Grammar
How to Use “moses” in a Sentence
a N made of wickerto be placed in the NVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Potentially encountered in historical linguistics, dialectology, or social history texts describing 18th-19th century domestic life.
Everyday
Not used in contemporary everyday language.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “moses”
- Capitalising it as a proper noun ('Moses').
- Attempting to use it in modern conversation.
- Confusing it with the verb 'to moss'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Etymologically, yes. The common noun is derived from the name Moses, likely via the story of the infant Moses being placed in a basket (or 'ark of bulrushes') on the Nile. The basket thus became associated with his name.
No, it would sound archaic or confusing. Use 'laundry basket', 'wicker hamper', or 'clothes basket' instead.
No, it is a historical British dialect term with no established usage in American English.
It functions solely as a countable noun (e.g., 'a moses', 'two moses baskets').
A large wicker basket, traditionally used for laundry or as a cradle.
Moses is usually historical, dialectal (chiefly uk), literary/archaic in register.
Moses: in British English it is pronounced /ˈməʊzɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced Not applicable / archaic British term.. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In the moses: In infancy, as a baby. (e.g., 'They knew each other from when they were in the moses.')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the biblical Moses being placed in a basket among the bulrushes; this archaic 'moses' is a similar type of basket.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR INFANCY / DOMESTIC CONTAINMENT (The basket as a vessel for both laundry and, historically, babies).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary modern relevance of the word 'moses' (common noun)?