I. ˈfe-thər-ˌbed adjective
Date: 1938
: calling for, sanctioning, or resulting from featherbedding
a featherbed rule
a featherbed job
II. verb
Date: 1949
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to require that more workers be hired than are needed
b. : to limit production under a featherbed rule
2. : to do featherbed work or put in time under a featherbed rule
transitive verb
1. : to bring under a featherbed rule
2. : to assist (as an industry) by government aid