'charpoy' originates from Hindi/Urdu, specifically the word 'charpāī', where 'char' meant 'four' and 'pāy' meant 'foot' or 'leg'.

'charpoy' came into English via Hindi/Urdu 'charpāī', which itself reflects Persian elements (from Persian 'chahār-pāy' or 'chār-pāy'); the word entered English in the 19th century during contact with South Asia and became used to name the four-legged woven bed.

Initially it referred literally to 'four-footed' or 'having four legs' (from its components meaning 'four' + 'leg'), but over time it came to denote specifically the four‑legged woven bed now called a 'charpoy'.