cushy

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkʊʃi/^[1]

Etymology

Of uncertain origin.^[2] Etymonline and Merriam-Webster derive it from Hindi ख़ुश (xuś, “pleasant”) with the suffix -y,^[3][4] Merriam-Webster tracing this further to Persian khūsh.^[4] Random House thinks it more probably a shortening of cushion with -y, and calls the Hindi and French couchée origins less likely.^[5] American Heritage notes that no Anglo-Indian source has been found and that the word is first recorded in a letter from the First World War front.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first described a post or job as easy and comfortable, and a wound as not serious.^[6]

Semantic evolution

Etymonline treats it as Anglo-Indian army slang,^[3] and it has kept its sense of easy, undemanding work;^[2][4] Random House also gives a literal sense, soft and comfortable.^[5]

Timeline

• 1915 – first recorded.^[3][6][4]
• 1930 – cushiness.^[6]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Easy and undemanding, especially of a job.
2. Soft and comfortable.

Word family

• cushily
• cushiness

References

1. [1] Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. [1] [2] [3] The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. [1] [2] [3] Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. [1] [2] [3] [4] Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. [1] [2] Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
6. [1] [2] [3] Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press