cushion
UK[ˈkʊʃn]US[ˈkʊʃn]
n
a soft bag filled with air or a soft material such as feathers, used to make a seat more comfortable.
n
something that provides protection from unpleasant effects.
v
to soften the effect of an impact or a fall.
v
to protect someone or something from the unpleasant effects of something.
Etymology
the word 'cushion' entered english in the 14th century from the old french 'coissin', meaning a cushion or pillow. this old french term evolved from vulgar latin 'coxinus', which translates to 'of the hip' or 'for the hip', derived from latin 'coxa' meaning 'hip'. the semantic journey is a clear example of metonymy, where the part of the body (the hip) that rests upon a soft support gave its name to the support itself. from its literal meaning of a padded seat, the word's sense broadened metaphorically to signify anything that absorbs shock or mitigates harshness, both physically and figuratively.
Analysis
the word 'cushion' is a simplex form. it is a loanword from old french, which itself derived from vulgar latin and latin. its core morpheme is not productively segmentable into smaller, meaningful parts in modern english spelling.
Examples
she arranged the velvet cushion on the sofa.
his savings provided a financial cushion when he lost his job.
the soft snow helped to cushion his fall from the bicycle.