Cushion

Not to be confused with Pillow.

A cushion is a soft bag of some ornamental material, usually stuffed with wool, hair, feathers, polyester staple fiber, non-woven material, cotton, or even paper torn into fragments. It may be used for sitting or kneeling upon, or to soften the hardness or angularity of a chair or couch.^[1] Decorative cushions often have a patterned cover material, and are used as decoration for furniture.

Scatter cushions in an armchair

Cushion from Museum of Yugoslavia

A cushion is also referred to as a bolster, hassock, headrest, a tush, and a sham.^[2]

Cushions and rugs can be used temporarily outside to soften a hard ground. They can be placed on sunloungers and used to prevent annoyances from moist grass and biting insects. Some dialects of English use this word to refer to throw pillows as well.

The cushion is a very ancient article of furniture; the inventories of the contents of palaces and great houses in the early Middle Ages constantly made mention of them. Cushions were then often of great size, covered with leather, and firm enough to serve as a seat, but the steady tendency of all furniture has been to grow smaller with time. Today, the cushion is considered an upholstery item.

Etymology

The word cushion comes from Middle English cushin, from Anglo-French cussin, quissin, from Vulgar Latin *coxinus, and from Latin coxa, hip.^[3] The first known use of the word cushion was in the 14th century. Cushions are known for being comfortable and soft. ^[1]

See also

• Bean bag chair
• Buffer
• Cushioning
• Pillow
• Sachet
• Sofa
• Zabuton
• Zafu

Notes

1. "Cushion". Merriam Webster. Retrieved 2012-05-20.
2. "Cushion". Thesaurus.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2012-05-20.
3. "Cushion". Merriam Webster. Retrieved 2013-08-17.

References

• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cushion" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• Manroe, C.O. (1997). "A Glossary of Materials, Terms, and Techniques". The Book of Upholstery: Understanding and Decorating with Upholstered Furniture. Random House Value Publishing. pp. 128–153. ISBN 978-0-517-14272-1. Retrieved 2024-08-05.