Thick pieces of soft material used for protection, comfort, or absorption. Can also refer to writing tablets or living spaces.
From Middle Dutch 'pad' meaning 'path, sole of foot'. The sense of cushioning material developed from the idea of something to walk on or rest upon, first recorded in English in the 16th century.
The word 'pad' for a living space (like 'bachelor pad') comes from the older slang meaning of bed or sleeping place, which criminal underworld used in the 1700s. Hockey goalies can wear up to 50 pounds of padding during a game.
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