finition RABAT

21:37 Dec 6, 2015 

Tony: Thanks!
Barbara: I must admit that I've never felt the need for a flap to tuck under the mattress. And (full disclosure) I now realise that I've seen this sort of duvet cover (presumably in France; I don't remember exactly when) and failed to realise what the flap was for.

17:02 Dec 6, 2015 

Totally agree!

Most of the duvet covers I see in France are like this, and they figured prominently in a catalogue I was involved in translating for a well-known mail-order company.
To BDF: I think part of the reason is to ensure your feet can't stick out of the bottom and get cold; and it does also stop the duvet slipping and sliding off as people toss and turn in their bed. I used to be very sceptical, but I have to say it is actually extremely effective.

15:49 Dec 6, 2015 

Convincing, but what on earth for? A good duvet doesn't slide off the bed and tucking it under the mattress seems to go against the spirit of duvets. Duvets are liberation from the horrid hospital-corner starched sheets with blankets we had when I was a kid.

14:37 Dec 5, 2015 

Here you can see the difference. Pillowcases have "rabats" too, but of course these are for tucking in to stop the pillow slipping out. And portefeuille (envelope)-style duvet covers have one of these as well. But there is also the rabat pour border: for tucking under the mattress:
http://www.coupecouture.fr/2010/11/housse_de_couette_portefe...

14:37 Dec 5, 2015 

Yes, you're absolutely right, that's exactly what it means. And yes 'border' is 'to tuck in' (also used for 'to tuck someone in at night' etc.)

14:25 Dec 5, 2015 

But this kind of thing changed my mind:

"Chaque housse de couette dispose d'une finition à rabat de 40 cm pratique à glisser sous le matelas pour une bonne tenue de votre couette."
http://www.decoclico.fr/housse-couette-jersey-anthracite-a-1...

Along with references to "finition rabat pour border", where border (judging from certain more explicit cases) doesn't mean tucking the flap into the cover but under the mattress. French duvet covers are noted for this feature apparently:

"I love the tucky under things on French duvet covers. I think they're a brilliant idea. When our own duvet covers wear out I am so replacing them with French ones. No more duvet wars!!
MM (who is fed up with trying to reclaim half the duvet on cold winter's nights)"
http://www.laymyhat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4367&sid=8b6d0...

"Bottle finish or bottle end duvet covers are designed so you can put the duvet in through the opening, then tuck the flap under the end of the mattress to stop the duvet sliding off the bed. A lot of French duvet covers have some kind of flap at the end."
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090304091045A...

13:55 Dec 5, 2015 

I believe it does refer to a flap, but not to stop the duvet slipping off the bed. The flap is folded inwards like the one on a pillowslip, so that the duvet is tucked into it and held in the cover with no need for buttons or poppers.

13:10 Dec 5, 2015 

And I'm sure it refers to one with a closure that includes a longish flap (40-50 cm), which is designed to be tucked under the mattress to stop the duvet slipping off the bed. These seem to be quite common in France. However, I'm not sure of the best term for this. The flap is not exclusive to envelope closure; it's found with bag closure too. One kind, but I think not the only one, is called bottleneck closure.