cushion

Where does the word "cushion" come from? It comes from Latin coxa, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Cushion’s story begins in Latin: coxa meant “hip.” The Vulgar Latin 'coxinus' was a pad to sit on. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as coissin. A stuffed cloth bag for comfort on hard benches. It reached English by 1300s as cushion. Later used figuratively for anything that softens a blow. Today, cushion means a soft pad for sitting or leaning on; something that absorbs impact.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient coxa "hip", the Vulgar Latin 'coxinus' was a pad to sit on.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval coissin "cushion", a stuffed cloth bag for comfort on hard benches.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s cushion "a soft pad", later used figuratively for anything that softens a blow.