Beanbag

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbiːnbæɡ/

Definitions

1. A casual seating option made of soft fabric and filled with lightweight pellets that conforms to the sitter's shape for support and comfort in informal settings
2. A soft, informal seating solution filled with lightweight materials that offers adaptive comfort by conforming to the individual's body shape for relaxation
3. A flexible, cushioned seat made from fabric filled with small beads that molds to the body's contours when sitting

Etymology: The compound is about as plain as English gets: "bean" plus "bag." What makes it worth a moment is the older sense of "bean" it draws on. The "bean" in beanbag is not the vegetable's seed but the small pellets once used to fill such seats, and the name describes the stuffing rather than the shape or the material of the bag. The word "bag" itself has a long pedigree in English, arriving from Old Norse and first meaning a container of cloth or skin. Pairing it with "bean" produced a name that tells you exactly what is inside, in the same way that "sandbag" describes its contents.

Synonyms: sack, pillow, cushion, lounge chair, seat