[cush.ion] n [ME cusshin, fr. MF coissin, fr. (assumed) VL coxinus, fr. L coxa hip--more at coxa] (14c) 1: a soft pillow or pad usu. used for sitting, reclining, or kneeling
2: a bodily part resembling a pad
3: something resembling a cushion: as a: pillow
2. b: rat 3 c: a pad of springy rubber along the inside of the rim of a billiard table d: a padded insert in a shoe e: an elastic body for reducing shock f: a mat laid under a large rug to ease the effect of wear
4. a: something (as an economic factor or a medical procedure) serving to mitigate the effects of disturbances or disorders b: a reserve supply (as of money) c: a comfortable lead "a 4-0 ~ in the ninth inning" -- cush.ion.less adj -- cush.iony adj
[2]cushion vt cush.ioned ; cush.ion.ing (ca. 1738) 1: to seat or place on a cushion
2: to suppress by ignoring
3: to furnish with a cushion
4. a: to mitigate the effects of b: to protect against force or shock
5: to check gradually so as to minimize shock of moving parts