I. ˈku̇-shən noun
Etymology: Middle English cusshin, from Anglo-French cussin, quissin, from Vulgar Latin * coxinus, from Latin coxa hip — more at coxa
Date: 14th century
1. : a soft pillow or pad usually 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 cushion in the ninth inning
• cush·ion·less -ləs adjective
• cush·iony -shə-nē adjective
II. transitive verb
( cush·ioned ; cush·ion·ing ˈku̇-sh(ə-)niŋ)
Date: circa 1738
1. : to seat or place on a cushion
2. : to suppress by ignoring
3. : to furnish with a cushion
a cushion ed seat
4.
a. : to mitigate the effects of
trying to cushion the blow
b. : to protect against force or shock
cushion the ride
5. : to check gradually so as to minimize shock of moving parts