featherbed
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feath·er·bed·ding
(fĕth′ər-bĕd′ĭng)n.
1. The hiring of more workers than necessary or the limiting of worker productivity in order to allow employment of more persons, usually as a result of a union contract with an employer.
2. The paying for services that are not actually performed, as in a union-imposed fee upon an employer.
feath′er·bed′ v. & adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
featherbed
Past participle: featherbedded
Gerund: featherbedding
Imperative |
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featherbed |
featherbed |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
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Noun | 1. | featherbed - a mattress stuffed with feathers mattress - a large thick pad filled with resilient material and often incorporating coiled springs, used as a bed or part of a bed |
Verb | 1. | featherbed - treat with excessive indulgence; "grandparents often pamper the children"; "Let's not mollycoddle our students!" |
2. | featherbed - hire more workers than are necessary |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.