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featherbed

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adjective feath·er·bed \ˈfe-thər-ˌbed\

Definition of featherbed

  1. :  calling for, sanctioning, or resulting from featherbedding a featherbed rule a featherbed job

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First Known Use of featherbed

1938

2

featherbed

verb feath·er·bed

Definition of featherbed

  1. intransitive verb

  2. 1a :  to require that more workers be hired than are neededb :  to limit production under a featherbed rule

  3. 2 :  to do featherbed work or put in time under a featherbed rule

  4. transitive verb

  5. 1 :  to bring under a featherbed rule

  6. 2 :  to assist (something, such as an industry) by government aid

First Known Use of featherbed

1949

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