playpen

[ pley-pen ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a small enclosure, usually portable, in which a young child can play safely alone without constant supervision.
playground ( defs 2, 3 ).

playpen

/ ˈpleɪˌpɛn /

a small enclosure, usually portable, in which a young child can be left to play in safety

Origin of playpen¹

First recorded in 1930–35; play + pen ²

The children were kept in a large playpen with the radio tuned to a news station for company.

Then I bought at Montgomery Ward a playpen for about $11 for the kid.

There was the bare necessities; there was no playpen or crib for the baby.

I say it is not necessary for a young couple to have a playpen for a baby.

And I will point out the character of my son, and what I am saying about the playpen and so on.

They'd been standing for it ever since I could remember anything outside my own playpen, which, of course, hadn't been too long.

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