cushion

Definitions

• A soft mass of material stuffed into a cloth bag, used for comfort or support; for sitting on, kneeling on, resting one's head on etc.
• Something acting as a cushion, especially to absorb a shock or impact.
• (figuratively) a sufficient quantity of an intangible object (like points or minutes) to allow for some of those points, for example, to be lost without hurting one's chances for successfully completing an objective.
• (obsolete) A riotous dance, formerly common at weddings.