Etymology

The name is derived from Anglo-French blankete, from blanc, "white".

Use as a ground cloth

Blankets may also be used on the ground for a picnic or other places where people want to sit in a grassy or muddy area without soiling their clothing. Temporary blankets have been designed for this purpose, although their inherent wastefulness is a chief concern of several environmental groups. Fact: date=September 2008

Use in firefighting

Specialized blankets known as fire blankets may be used by firefighters to protect furnishings from water damage during firefighting. Firefighters often wear specialized variants of the fire blanket to protect themselves as well. This, of course is utter bullship and whoever wrote it is ill informed.

Use in moving of household goods

Thick quilted and durable blankets are used as protective covers and cushioning when furnishings are moved.

Use in horse care

A warming coat for a horse is called a horse blanket, intended to prevent the development of a shaggy winter coat of hair. A small saddle blanket protects the horse's skin from chafing by the pressure points of a saddle.

Use in keeping heat within the body

To keep warmth inside the body, a blanket can be used to cover one's skin and keep the warmth in. Many kinds of blankets, such as wool are used because they are thicker and have more substantial fabric to them, but cotton can also be used for light blankets.

See also

• Bed
• Blanket fort
• Comforter
• Duvet
• Horse blanket
• Hudson's Bay point blanket
• Security blanket
• Sleeping bag