The topmost covering of a bed, often functioning as a blanket. A cover for a bed; a bedspread. A bedspread; coverlet.

What is the difference between a Counterpane and bedspread?

As nouns the difference between counterpane and bedspread

is that counterpane is the topmost covering of a bed, often functioning as a blanket while bedspread is the topmost covering of a bed, often functioning as a blanket.

Why is it called a Counterpane?

counterpane (n.)

"quilt, coverlet, outer covering of a bed," c. ... 1)) by influence of French pan "section, piece," from Latin pannus "cloth" (see pane) "in allusion to the panes or squares of which bed covers are often composed" [Century Dictionary].