n. [ The same word as Couscous, fr. F. couscous couscous, Ar. kuskus. ] (Bot.) A soft grass (Pennisetum typhoideum) found in all tropical regions, used as food for men and cattle in Central Africa. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. Same as Vetiver oil. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ AS. cusceote. ] (Zool.) The ringdove or wood pigeon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Scarce with cushat's homely song can vie. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool) The galeated curassow. See Curassow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. cuischun, quisshen, OF. coissin, cuissin, F. coussin, fr. (assumed) LL. culcitinum, dim. of L. culcita cushion, mattress, pillow. See Quilt, and cf. Counterpoint a coverlet. ] 1. A case or bag stuffed with some soft and elastic material, and used to sit or recline upon; a soft pillow or pad. [ 1913 Webster ]

Two cushions stuffed with straw, the seat to raise. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything resembling a cushion in properties or use; as: (a) a pad on which gilders cut gold leaf; (b) a mass of steam in the end of the cylinder of a steam engine to receive the impact of the piston; (c) the elastic edge of a billiard table. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A riotous kind of dance, formerly common at weddings; -- called also cushion dance. Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cushion capital.(Arch.) A capital so sculptured as to appear like a cushion pressed down by the weight of its entablature. (b) A name given to a form of capital, much used in the Romanesque style, modeled like a bowl, the upper part of which is cut away on four sides, leaving vertical faces. --
Cushion star (Zool.) a pentagonal starfish belonging to Goniaster, Astrogonium, and other allied genera; -- so called from its form. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cushioned p. pr. & vb. n. Cushioning. ] 1. To seat or place on, or as on a cushion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Many who are cushioned on thrones would have remained in obscurity. Bolingbroke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To furnish with cushions; as, to cushion a chaise. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To conceal or cover up, as under a cushion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cushioned hammer, a dead-stroke hammer. See under Dead-stroke. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. furnished with a cushion or other device to reduce hardness.
Syn. -- cushiony, padded. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

2. having the severity reduced; having the unpleasant effects mitigated. [ PJC ]

3. protected against shock by adding soft padding or other device to reduce deceleration in a collision.
Syn. -- cushioned. [ PJC ]

n. [ OF. coissinet, F. coussinet. See Cushion, and cf. Coussinet. ] A little cushion. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. soft or resilient material used to fill or give shape or protect or add comfort.
Syn. -- padding. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Not furnished with a cushion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rows of long, cushionless benches, supplying the place of pews. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]