cushion – Wiktionary

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Center English cusshon, cuschen, quesshon, from later Previous French coissin (trendy coussin), from Vulgar Latin *coxīnus (“seat pad”), derived from Latin coxa (“hip, thigh”) with the suffix probably after Latin pulvīnus (“pillow”).

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

cushion (countable and uncountable, plural cushions)

1. A mushy mass of fabric stuffed right into a material bag, used for consolation or help; for sitting on, kneeling on, resting one’s head on and so forth.
   • 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 1, in The Tremarn Case‎^[1]:

     “There the reason for demise was quickly ascertained ; the sufferer of this daring outrage had been stabbed to demise from ear to ear with an extended, sharp instrument, in form like an vintage stiletto, which […] was subsequently discovered below the cushions of the hansom. […]”

   • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 12, in The Mirror and the Lamp:

     There have been many wood chairs for the majority of his guests, and two wicker armchairs with pink material cushions for superior folks. From the packing-cases had emerged some Indian golf equipment, […], and all these articles […] made a scattered and untidy ornament that Mrs. Clough assiduously dusted and tremendously cherished.

2. One thing performing as a cushion, particularly to soak up a shock or impression.
   1. A pad on which gilders reduce gold leaf.
   2. A mass of steam ultimately of the cylinder of a steam engine to obtain the impression of the piston.
   4. (sports activities, billiards, snooker, pool) The lip round a desk in cue sports activities which absorbs a few of the impression of the billiard balls and bounces them again.
   5. The pillow utilized in making bone lace.
   6. An engraver’s pad.
   7. (historic) The rubber of {an electrical} machine.
   8. (historic) A pad supporting a girl’s hair.
3. (figuratively) a adequate amount of an intangible object (like factors or minutes) to permit for a few of these factors, for instance, to be misplaced with out hurting one’s probabilities for efficiently finishing an goal.
   • 2011 November 3, Arindam Rej, “Fulham 4-1 Wisla Krakow”, in BBC Sport:

     Wisla made a brilliant begin to the second half and Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer was twice referred to as into motion, first saving Gervasio Nunez’s deflected 20-yard effort after which smothering Gargula’s free-kick.
     However Fulham quickly had the cushion of a 3rd aim after extra excellent build-up play.

   1. (finance, countable, uncountable) Cash saved in reserve.
      • 2007, Belverd Needles, Marian Powers, Monetary Accounting: Media Enhanced (web page 826)

        Curiosity protection is vital as a result of it’s an indicator of how a lot cushion an organization has in making its curiosity funds.

      • 2013, Stijn Claessens, Kirsten Forbes, Worldwide Monetary Contagion (web page 85)

        If one of many banks has a big sufficient cushion of capital and a robust sufficient stability sheet, then it might not expertise a financial institution run, and the domino impact in panel A wouldn’t have occurred.

4. (out of date) A riotous dance, previously frequent at weddings.

   (Can we discover and add a citation of Halliwell to this entry?)

Descendants[edit]

Translations[edit]

See additionally[edit]

Verb[edit]

cushion (third-person singular easy current cushions, current participle cushioning, easy previous and previous participle cushioned)

1. To furnish with cushions.

   to cushion a settee

2. To seat or place on, or as on a cushion.
   • 1734, Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, A Dissertation on Events

     What number of doughty monarchs, in later and extra well mannered ages, would have slept in cottages, and have labored in falls, as a substitute of inhabiting palaces, and being cushioned up in thrones, if this rule of presidency had continued in power ?

3. To soak up or deaden the impression of.

   to cushion a blow

   • 1903, Edward Porritt, “Poynings’ Legislation”, The Unreformed Home of Commons Vol.II p.429 (CUP):

     the event of common curiosity in Parliament made it much less potential for the Privy Council in Dublin to cushion a invoice which the Commons had introduced to the Lord Lieutenant

4. To hide or cowl up, as below a cushion.

Translations[edit]

References[edit]