cushewbird (kushoberd)

[ Uppon which tyme of sitting, the servitorys moste dili gently a-wayte to serve them of qu yons . Babees Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 369. In a shadowy saloon, On silken cushions half reclined. Tennyson, Eleanore. 2. Something resembling a cushion in structure, softne , elasticity, use, or appearance; especially, something used to counteract a sudden shock, jar, or jolt, as in a piece of mechanism. Specifically-( a ) An elastic pad of calfskin stuffed with wool, on which gold-leaf is placed and cut with a palette knife into the forms or sizes needed by the finisher for the gilding of books. Also called gold - cushion. (b) A pillow used in lace-making. See pillow. (c) A pincushion (which see). (d) In hair - dre ing, a pad used for supporting the hair and increasing its apparent ma . The hair was arranged [in 1789] over a cushion formed of wool, and covered with silk. Fairholt , Costume, II. 211. (e) The rubber of an electrical machine. See rubber. (f) The padded side or rim of a billiard-table. (g) The head of a bit-stock. See bracel, 14. (h) In mach., a body of air or steam which serves, under pre ure, as an elastic check or buffer; specifically, steam left in the cylinder of an engine to serve as an elastic check for the piston. The cushion is made by closing the exhaust-outlet an instant before the end of the stroke, or by opening the inlet for live steam before the stroke is finished. (i) In zoöl., IMG:content-1863.jpg:[ocr errors] the insertion of many leaves, a special mobile organ. Also theillionheartement called pulvinus. (k) In arch., the echinus of a capital. 3. The woolsack. [Chief Justice Hale] became the cushion exceedingly well. Roger North , Lord Guilford, I. 144. Cushion style, in embroidery, formerly, the simplest stitch, like modern Berlin work or worsted work: so called because much used for cushions to kneel upon in church, etc. To be beside the cushiont, to mi the mark (literally or figuratively). Nares. To hit or mi the cushiont, to succeed or fail in an attempt; hit or mi a mark. Nares. cushion (kush'un), v. [ Many, who are cushioned upon thrones, would have remained in obscurity. Bolingbroke , Parties. 2. To cover or conceal with or as with a cushion; furnish with a cushion or cushions, in any sense of that word: as, to cushion a seat; to cushion a carriage. Further gain was also made by cushioning the bearings of the diaphragm on both sides with rings of paper. G. B. Pre scott, Elect. Invent., p. 24. 31. To put aside or suppre . cusp The apothecary trotted into town, now in full po e ion of the vicar's motives for desiring to cushion his son's oratory. M. W. Savage, R. Medlicott, ii. 10. II. in trans. In billiards , to make the cue-ball hit the cushion, either before it touches any other ball or after contact with the object-ball. cushion-capital (kush'un-kap"i-tal), n. In arch ., a capital of such form as to appear like a cushion pre ed upon by the weight of the entablature. It is of common occurrence in Indian buildings; and the name is spe cifically given to a form of Norman capital, consisting of a cube rounded off at its lower angles. Cushion-capital (Norman).