featherbed

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

featherbed
    n 1: a mattress stuffed with feathers [syn: {feather bed},
         {featherbed}]
    v 1: treat with excessive indulgence; "grandparents often pamper
         the children"; "Let's not mollycoddle our students!" [syn:
         {pamper}, {featherbed}, {cosset}, {cocker}, {baby},
         {coddle}, {mollycoddle}, {spoil}, {indulge}]
    2: hire more workers than are necessary

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

featherbed \featherbed\ n.
   1. a mattress stuffed with feathers.

   Syn: feather bed.
        [WordNet 1.5]