cushion

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
  2. noun the layer of air that supports a hovercraft or similar vehicle
  3. noun a soft bag filled with air or a mass of padding such as feathers or foam rubber etc.

Etymology

From Middle English quysshyn, from later Old French coissin (modern coussin), from Vulgar Latin *coxīnus (“seat pad”), derived from Latin coxa (“hip, thigh”) (with the suffix possibly after Latin pulvīnus (“pillow”)), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *koḱs- (“joint, limb”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

shock absorber, shock

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