pillow

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A soft cushion used to support the head in bed.
2. (countable, uncountable) Any similar head support used for sleep, such as a neck pillow or a hard porcelain pillow. Example: She slept with her head on the pillow.
3. (countable, uncountable) A pillow lava.
4. (countable, uncountable) A piece of metal or wood, forming a support to equalize pressure; a brass; a pillow block.
5. (countable, uncountable) A block under the inner end of a bowsprit.
6. (countable, uncountable) The socket of a pivot.
7. (uncountable) A kind of plain, coarse fustian.

Verb

To rest as on a pillow.

Synonyms

cushion

headrest

bolster

pad

rest

mattress

mat

bed

🛏️

pedestal

pincushion

pouffe

recline

seat

💺

socket

squab

stand

stool

support

tick

tray

block of wood

Dutch wife

inkpad

head-rest

feather tick

bed pillow

pulvinar

shaft bearing

base seat

case of fit

rail bearing

shafting bearing

abutment

mechanical bearing

arm

chair

🪑

classifier

crossbar

foundation

holder

kiss

😗

Translations

oreiller

almohada

kussen

😗

guanciale

Kissen

almofada

cuscino

Kopfkissen

travesseiro

coussin

coixí

hoofdkussen

μαξιλάρι

yastık

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpɪləʊ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: pilwe

Inherited from Old English: pylwe

In summary

From Middle English pilwe, from Old English pyle, pylu (“pillow”), from Proto-West Germanic *pulwī (“pillow”), from Latin pulvīnus (“cushion”), derived from pulvis (“dust, powder”) + -īnus (“-ine”), for the filler of a pillow. Doublet of pulvinus.
Cognate with Saterland Frisian Peel (“pillow”), Alemannic German Pfulme (“pillow”), Dutch peluw (“a long, narrow pillow”), German Pfühl (“a big and soft pillow”), German Low German Pöhl (“pad, pillow, cushion”).

Sentences

A good conscience is a soft pillow .