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Noun: featherbedding  'fe-dhu(r),be-ding or ,fe-dhu(r)'be-ding
  1. The practice (usually by a labour union) of requiring an employer to hire more workers than are required
    "The company accused the union of featherbedding to protect jobs"
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]

Derived forms: featherbeddings

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

Encyclopedia: Featherbedding

Featherbed