Futon definition

fo͝otŏn

Words form:

Frequency:

A thin mattress of tufted cotton batting or similar material, placed on a floor or on a raised, foldable frame.

noun

A thin mattress of tufted cotton or similar material, placed on a floor or on a raised, foldable frame as a bed.

noun

A round cushion used for Zen meditation (traditionally made of woven bulrush leaves)

noun

A thin mattress like a quilt, placed on the floor or on a very low platform frame, for use as a bed or chair.

noun

Any of various kinds of low couch or chair that can be unfolded to serve as a simple platform bed.

noun

Other Word Forms

Singular:

futon

Plural:

futons

Japanese ultimately (although the first syllable is now written with the kanji for fu cloth) from early Mandarin phu´ thↄn´ a kind of mat (Modern Mandarin pútuán cushion made from rushes, hassock made from cattails) phu´ rushes, reeds, aquatic grasses (such as those used for bedding, for example) (from Middle Chinese pfiuə̆) thↄn´ round, to roll into a ball (from Middle Chinese tfiuan)

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Japanese 布団 (futon ふとん), from Middle Chinese 蒲團 (bu-dwan "meditation cushion") (compare Mandarin pútuán 蒲团), from 蒲 ("cattail") + 團 ("sphere", "round object").

From Wiktionary