False bottom

A false bottom (or false back) is an internal partition in a container, typically at the bottom of a drawer, suitcase or similar item, enabling the concealment of objects from a cursory examination of the item's contents. A false bottom may be present if the internal dimensions of a container do not match its external dimensions after taking into account the thicknesses of constituent materials and structures used to build the object.

Drawing of a drawer with a false back

The term false bottom can also refer to the deep scattering layer in the ocean, a phenomenon where a layer of marine organisms deep in the ocean can be mistaken by sonar for the seabed.^[1] In Polar research, the false bottom refers to the type of thin sea ice which is formed underwater at the interface of low-salinity meltwater and saline seawater, typically during summer season.^[2]

See also

• Concealment device
• Drawer (furniture)