Futon
/ˈfuː.tɒn/noun
A Japanese-style mattress or padded bedding traditionally placed directly on the floor.
Did you know?The Japanese word originally referred to a round cushion associated with Buddhist monks, and only later came to mean a sleeping mattress.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Middle Chinese
蒲團 (possibly pū-tuán)
“A round cushion or mat made from rushes; this is the likely historical source associated with the Japanese term, though the exact borrowing path is debated.”
8th–9th Century
Japanese
ふとん / futon
“A round cushion or padded seat, especially in Buddhist contexts.”
Medieval Japan
Japanese
布団 / futon
“A padded cushion or quilted bedding item.”
17th–19th Century
Japanese
布団 / futon
“A mattress or quilt used for sleeping, commonly laid on tatami flooring.”
19th Century
English
futon
“A Japanese mattress or bedding item introduced into English through cultural and commercial contact.”
Modern English
English
futon
“A flexible mattress, often used on a frame that converts between sofa and bed.”