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Verb: featherbed (featherbedded,featherbedding)  'fe-dhu(r),bed or ,fe-dhu(r)'bed
  1. Hire more workers than are necessary
    "The company featherbedded to avoid layoffs during slow periods"
     
  2. Treat with excessive indulgence
    "grandparents often featherbed the children";
    - pamper, cosset, cocker [rare], baby, coddle, mollycoddle, spoil, indulge, overindulge, nanny [informal]
Noun: featherbed  'fe-dhu(r),bed or ,fe-dhu(r)'bed
  1. A mattress stuffed with feathers
    "The luxury hotel provided featherbeds for ultimate comfort";
    - feather bed

Derived forms: featherbedded, featherbedding, feather beds, featherbeds

Type of: do by [Brit], employ, engage, handle, hire, mattress, take on, treat

Encyclopedia: Featherbed