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pad

1. A soft, or small, cushion; a mass of anything soft; stuffing.

2. A kind of cushion for writing upon, or for blotting; especially, one formed of many flat sheets of writing paper, or layers of blotting paper; a block of paper.

3. A cushion used as a saddle without a tree or frame.

4. A stuffed guard or protection; especially, one worn on the legs of horses to prevent bruising.

5. (Science: zoology) A cushionlike thickening of the skin one the under side of the toes of animals.

6. A floating leaf of a water lily or similar plant.

7. (Science: medicine) A soft bag or cushion to relieve pressure, support a part, etc.

8. A piece of timber fixed on a beam to fit the curve of the deck.

9. A measure for fish; as, sixty mackerel go to a pad; a basket of soles. Pad cloth, a saddlecloth; a housing. Pad saddle. See def. 3, above. Pad tree, a piece of wood or metal which gives rigidity and shape to a harness pad.

Origin: Perh. Akin to pod.