NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Pillow

A pillow is a large cushion support for the head, usually used while sleeping in a bed, or for the body as used on a couch or chair. There are also throw pillows (also called toss pillows), which are pillows that are purely decorative and not designed for support or comfort. There also exist "novelty pillows", (which can be thrown or body pillows), which are often designed as licensed products. Such pillows include the popular "Fish Pillow" - a large body pillow that is made to look like a trout. Ralli quilt pillows are famous pillows which are used in Pakistan and India. They are colorfully embroidered and quilted by the women artisans. Download high resolution version (869x650, 97 KB)A tapestry cushion, depicting pansies, photographed by DONeil. ... Download high resolution version (869x650, 97 KB)A tapestry cushion, depicting pansies, photographed by DONeil. ... Cushion: makes a lounge or rug softer A cushion (from Old French coisson, coussin; from Latin culcita, a quilt), is a soft bag of some ornamental material, stuffed with wool, hair, feathers, polyester staple fiber, non-woven material, or even paper torn into fragments. ... For other uses of the word head, see head (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Sleep (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Bed (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Couch (disambiguation). ... For other uses of chair, see chair (disambiguation). ... A throw pillow, or toss pillow, is a small, decorative type of pillow. ... This article or section needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ...

History

Pillows were originally used mainly by the wealthy, and have been found in Ancient Egyptian tombs. The difficulty of sophisticated dyes and sewing techniques lead to the development of pillows as an art form, with highly decorated pillows becoming prized commodities first in China and later in Medieval Europe. The Industrial Revolution saw the mass production of decorated textiles and decorated pillows. Traditional Chinese pillows are often hard boxes made from stone, wood, metal, or porcelain instead of stuffed fabric.^[1] Khafres Pyramid and the Great Sphinx of Giza, built about 2550 BC during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom,[1] are enduring symbols of the civilization of ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt was a civilization in Northeastern Africa concentrated along the middle to lower reaches of the Nile River... This article is about the philosophical concept of Art. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... A Watt steam engine, the steam engine that propelled the Industrial Revolution in Britain and the world. ... â€œFine Chinaâ€ redirects here. ... Fabric may mean: Cloth, a flexible artificial material made up of a network of natural or artificial fibres Fabric (club), a London dance club Fibre Channel fabric, a network of Fibre Channel devices enabled by a Fibre Channel switch using the FC-SW topology This is a disambiguation page, a...

Construction and parts

Internally, a pillow comprises a filler made from foam, synthetic fills, feathers, or down. Traditionally straw was a filler, but this is uncomfortable and rarely used today. Feathers and down were the choice of the rich; these offered the advantage of softness and their ability to conform to shapes desired by the user, more so than foam or fibre pillows. However, the pointed tips of down feathers can poke through the pillow cover, poking the sleeper and causing discomfort, and so today even they have become less common than foam-based pillows. There are currently hypoallergenic varieties of down pillows to allow people sensitive to down to enjoy the comfort of feather or down pillows. In Asia, buckwheat is a common filler, as are plastic imitations. Such pillows tend to be smaller than a standard pillow. Sea foam on the beach Foam on a cappuccino Fire-retardant, foamed plastic being used as a temporary dam for firestop mortar in a cable penetration in a pulp and paper mill on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. ... Two feathers Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. ... The down of birds is a layer of fine feathers found under the tougher exterior feathers. ... Closeup on a single white feather A feather is one of the epidermal growths that forms the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on a bird. ... Look up Down in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Sea foam on the beach Foam on a cappuccino Fire-retardant, foamed plastic being used as a temporary dam for firestop mortar in a cable penetration in a pulp and paper mill on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. ... Look up hypoallergenic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Binomial name Fagopyrum esculentum Moench Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is a plant in the genus Fagopyrum (sometimes merged into genus Polygonum) in the family Polygonaceae. ...

The fill is surrounded with a cover or shell made of cloth or silk, known as the pillow case or pillow slip. House pillows (also called cushions) often include a zipper in this cover so that the fill can be removed and the covering laundered. Bed pillows do not have this feature, and instead a pillow case goes over the pillow, that can be washed. Even with regular washing, pillows tend to accumulate large amounts of dust and vast numbers of microbes among the fill and it is recommended that they be replaced every few years, especially for those with allergies. It has been suggested that Textile be merged into this article or section. ... For other uses of this word, see Silk (disambiguation). ... Italian street, with laundry hung to dry Laundry can be: items of clothing and other textiles that require washing, the act of washing clothing and textiles, the room of a house in which this is done. ... Look up dust in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A microorganism or microbe is an organism that is so small that it is microscopic (invisible to the naked eye). ... An allergy is an abnormal, acquired sensitivity to a given substance, including pollen, drugs, or numerous environmental triggers. ...

The classic bed pillow shape is a square or golden rectangle with four corners reminiscent of the shape of the ears of a cat. Each corner of a pillow is referred to as a nib. When a pillow is placed on a flat surface the "poof point" is the crest of the pillow roundness. The large rectangle BA is a golden rectangle; that is, the proportion b:a is 1:. If we remove square B, what is left, A, is another golden rectangle. ...

Types

A pillow is designed to provide support and comfort to the body. There are three main types of pillows; Bed pillows, Orthopedic pillows and Decorative pillows, with some overlapping of use between these. An orthopedic pillow is a pillow designed to correct body positioning in bed or while lying in any other surface. ...

Bed

Bed pillows are usually rectangular in shape. They are common in these three sizes (in inches); Standard (20x26), Queen (20x30), King (20x36). These pillows are generally covered with a removable pillow case, which facilitate laundering, keeping the bedding fresh. The 'Oxford Size' used in many English speaking countries is 50cm x 75cm (20 x 30 inches), while the 'Continental Size' used in many parts of Continental Europe (i.e. not UK) is 66cm x 66cm (26 x 26 inches). When considered as a subset of Bed Pillow, Euro pillows finish 26x26 and older style Travel Pillows commonly finished 12x16.

Body pillows are as long as a full adult body, providing support to the head and neck at the top and to the knees and legs lower down. This type of pillow can be especially useful in providing support for those who sleep on their sides and for pregnant women. â€œHuman Headâ€ redirects here. ... A human neck. ... For other uses, see Knee (disambiguation). ... Diagram of an insect leg A leg is the part of an animals body that supports the rest of the animal above the ground and is used for locomotion. ...

Orthopedic

Neck pillows support the neck by providing a deep area for the head to rest and a supportive area to keep the neck in alignment with the spine while sleeping. These can also be known as cervical pillows. A human neck. ...

Travel pillows provide support for the neck and head in a sitting position. Their "U" shape fits around the back of the neck and keeps the head from slipping into an uncomfortable and possibly harmful position during sleep. However, U-shaped pillows often force the head forwards creating neck stiffness. This article is about sitting in its general sense. ...

Donut pillows are firm pillows shaped like a torus, with a space in the middle to alleviate pressure on the tailbone area while sitting. These pillows are used primarily by individuals who have suffered an injury to the tailbone area or who suffer pain from hemorrhoids or another ailment of the colon. In geometry, a torus (pl. ... The coccyx, commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the human vertebral column, of three to five (usually four) fused vertebrae (the coccygeal vertebrae), below the sacrum. ... Hemorrhoids (also haemorrhoids or piles) are varicosities or swelling and inflammation of veins in the rectum and anus. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Large intestine. ...

Lumbar pillows are designed to support the inward curve of the lower back, filling the space created between the lower back and the back of the chair when in a sitting position. These pillows are generally used to support the lower back while driving or sitting, such as in an office chair. In anatomy, lumbar is an adjective that means of or pertaining to the abdominal segment of the torso, between the diaphragm and the sacrum (pelvis). ... Look up Back in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Driving (disambiguation). ... An office chair, or desk chair, is a chair that is designed for use at a desk in an office. ...

Decorative

Decorative Pillows serve a dual purpose. They likely have fancy cover material which serves to decorate the room where they are found. Since Decorative Textiles are commonly 54 inches in width, many decorative pillows finish about 17x17 inches. (54/3 = 18 less seam allowance) When used to decorate a fully made up bed, decorative pillows are likely thrown aside at bedtime, since they are not covered with a launderable pillow case, thus, while found on the bed, they are primarily there for decoration, hence they fall under this category.

Decorative pillows are also found on furnishings in more public parts of the home, such as sofas, chairs and window seats. Here, their common use may overlap both orthopedic and bed pillows. For example, unless a person has some particular medical condition, they will likely use a handy decorative pillow for lumbar support, as needed, while seated on a sofa. Likewise, for the occasional nap, decorative pillows are handy for supporting the head or neck, even though they are not covered with a pillow case, as are bed pillows.

There are five common synonyms for decorative pillows which are descriptive of their use in the home. "Accent" Pillows emphasize or accent some other part of the home decor. The terms Sofa Pillow and Couch Pillow refer to the place these decorative pillows are likely found. The terms Toss pillow and Throw pillow refer to the way they generally arrive in their places. A throw pillow, or toss pillow, is a small, decorative type of pillow. ...

Novelty Pillows are shaped like humorous objects (a banana, tweety bird, a human leg, a former president), and are meant to brighten up and add humor to a room or lounge area.

Floor Pillows are another subset of decorative pillows. These pillows often finish 26x26 inches (one half of the width of the textile, less seam allowance)

Miscellaneous Styles

A Dakimakura is a kind of large pillow from Japan. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Firestop after fire exposure during fire test in Tulsa, Oklahoma. ... Fire-resistance rated wall assembly with fire door, cable tray penetration and intumescent [1] cable coating. ...

Other uses

Look up relaxation in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A heating pad is a pad used for warming of parts of the body in order to manage pain. ... It has been suggested that Aromatherapy Candles be merged into this article or section. ... A simulated pregnancy is a deliberate attempt to create the false impression of pregnancy. ... For other uses, see Knee (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Sleep (disambiguation). ... In anatomy, the stomach is a bean-shaped hollow muscular organ of the gastrointestinal tract involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... International time/temperature curves used to run commercial furnaces for testing the Fire-resistance rating of passive fire protection systems, such as firestops, fire doors, wall and floor assemblies, etc. ...

See also

This article is about the pillow called a bolster. ... Cushion: makes a lounge or rug softer A cushion (from Old French coisson, coussin; from Latin culcita, a quilt), is a soft bag of some ornamental material, stuffed with wool, hair, feathers, polyester staple fiber, non-woven material, or even paper torn into fragments. ... A pillow top queen-size mattress. ... An orthopedic pillow is a pillow designed to correct body positioning in bed or while lying in any other surface. ... A childrens pillow fight A pillow fight is a common game mostly played by young children in which they attack each other with pillows. ... A throw pillow, or toss pillow, is a small, decorative type of pillow. ... Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. ...

References

Categories: Articles lacking reliable references from September 2007 | Articles with trivia sections from July 2007 | Bedding For other uses, see Sleep (disambiguation). ... Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is the normal stage of sleep characterized by rapid movements of the eyes. ... Beta is the frequency range of brain activity above 12 Hz (12 transitions or cycles per second). ... Gamma waves A gamma wave is a pattern of brain waves, associated with perception and consciousness. ... The sleep stages 1 through 4 are collectively referred to as NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep. ... Polysomnogram demonstrating SWS. High amplitude EEG is highlighted in red. ... In humans, a theta wave is an electroencephalogram pattern normally produced while awake but relaxed or drowsy. ... A delta wave is a large, slow brain wave associated with deep sleep. ... Sleep deprivation is a general lack of the necessary amount of sleep. ... This article is about the sleeping disorder. ... A parasomnia is any sleep disorder such as sleepwalking, sleepeating, sleep sex, teeth grinding, night terrors, rhythmic movement disorder, REM behaviour disorder, restless leg syndrome, and somniloquy (or sleep talking), characterized by partial arousals during sleep or during transitions between wakefulness and sleep. ... Sleepwalking (also called somnambulism or noctambulism), under the larger category of parasomnias, is a sleep disorder where the sufferer engages in activities that are normally associated with wakefulness while they are asleep or in a sleeplike state. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Night Terror. ... Dyssomnias are a broad classification of sleeping disorder that make it difficult to get to sleep, or to stay sleeping. ... Hypersomnia, also known as excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), is excessive amount of sleepiness. ... For other uses, see Narcolepsy (disambiguation). ... Sleep apnea, sleep apnoea or sleep apnÅ“a is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. ... Ondines Curse, Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome or primary alveolar hypoventilation, is a respiratory disorder that is fatal if untreated. ... Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD), also called nocturnal myoclonus, is a sleep disorder where the patient moves involuntarily during sleep. ... Circadian rhythm sleep disorders are a family of sleep disorders affecting the timing of sleep. ... Nocturia is the need to get up during the night in order to urinate, thus interrupting sleep. ... Automatism, from the Greek automatismos or self action, is the spontaneous production of often purposeless verbal or motor behavior without conscious self-control, self-conceptualization or self-censorship. ... Sleeping sickness or African trypanosomiasis is a parasitic disease in people and animals, caused by protozoa of genus Trypanosoma and transmitted by the tsetse fly. ... For other uses, see Dream (disambiguation). ... The current usage of the term nightmare refers to a dream which causes the sleeper a strong unpleasant emotional response. ... Exploding head syndrome is a rare condition first reported by a British physician in 1988[1] that causes the sufferer to occasionally experience a tremendously loud noise as if from within his or her own head, usually described as an explosion or a roar. ... Hypnos and Thanatos,Sleep and His Half-Brother Death by John William Waterhouse Wikibooks has a book on the topic of Lucid dreaming A lucid dream is a dream in which the person is aware that he or she is dreaming while the dream is in progress. ... A false awakening is an event in which someone dreams they have awakened from sleep. ... The Nightmare, by Henry Fuseli (1781) is thought to be one of the classic depictions of sleep paralysis perceived as a demonic visitation. ... Hypnagogia (also spelled hypnogogia) describes vivid dream-like auditory, visual, or tactile sensations, which are often accompanied by sleep paralysis and experienced when falling asleep or waking up. ... A hypnic or hypnagogic jerk is an involuntary muscle twitch (more generally known as myoclonus or a myoclonic twitch) which often occurs during the transition from wakefulness to sleep (see hypnagogia). ... A nocturnal emission is an ejaculation of semen experienced by a male during sleep. ... Somnolence (or drowsiness) is a state of near-sleep, a strong desire for sleep, or sleeping for unusually long periods. ... Bedding refers to the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for warmth. ... A bed sheet is a large piece of cotton or linen cloth used to cover a mattress. ... A double duvet. ... It has been suggested that Wool blankets be merged into this article or section. ... A quilt is a type of puppy with long fluffy ears. ... Nightwear, also called sleepwear, nightclothes, or nightdress, is clothing designed to be worn while sleeping. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A child wearing a blanket sleeper. ... Fashionable young men in early 16th century Germany showed a lot of fine linen in a studied negligence. ... The negligee is a form of womenswear intended for wear at night and in the bedroom or in a airport parking lot. ... Pink chiffon nightie A nightgown (also called a nightdress) is a loosely hanging item of nightwear nowadays solely for women, Its length may vary from hip-length (babydoll) to floor-length (peignoir) but is typically knee-length. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Nightcap (disambiguation). ... A peignoir is a long nightgown for women usually sheer and made of chiffon. ... Look up Pajamas in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Short pink chiffon nightgown Black slip nightgown A nightgown (also called a nightdress) is a loosely hanging item of nightwear nowadays mostly for women. ... Genera & Species Genus Cimex Cimex lectularius Cimex hemipterus () Cimex pilosellus Cimex pipistrella Genus Leptocimex Leptocimex boueti Genus Haematosiphon Haematosiphon inodora Genus Oeciacus Oeciacus hirudinis Oeciacus vicarius Bedbugs (or bed bugs) are small nocturnal insects of the family Cimicidae that live by hematophagy, that is by feeding on the blood of... Many competing theories have been advanced to discover the possible connections between sleep and learning in humans. ... Snoring is the act of breathing through the open mouth in such a way as to cause a vibration of the uvula and soft palate, thus giving rise to a sound which may vary from a soft noise to a loud unpleasant sound. ... Jet lag (or jet-lag) is a physical condition caused by crossing multiple time zones during flight. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... A power nap (sometimes called a catnap) is a short nap, usually 15-20 minutes, intended to revitalize the subject from drowsiness while working, coined by Cornell University social psychologist James Maas. ... Polyphasic sleep is a term used to describe several alternative sleep patterns intended to reduce sleep time to 2â€“6 hours daily in order to achieve a better quality of sleep. ... A painting of a young woman taking a siesta. ... For other uses, see Sleepover (film). ... Bedtime is a popular parenting tradition that involves, to a greater or lesser extent, rituals made to help children feel more secure [1], and become accustomed to a comparatively more rigid schedule of sleep than they would sometimes prefer. ... Bedtime Stories track listing Sanctuary (9) Bedtime Story (10) Take a Bow (11) GHV2 track listing Dont Cry for Me Argentina (radio edit) (5) Bedtime Story (edit) (6) The Power of Good-Bye (album version) (7) For the 1964 comedy film, see Bedtime Story (film). ... For other uses, see Lullaby (disambiguation). ... A bedroom is a room where people sleep. ... For other uses, see Bed (disambiguation). ... A pillow top queen-size mattress. ... A futon in Japan A futon in the U.S. A futon ) is a type of mattress that makes up a Japanese bed. ... A Bunkbed A bunk bed is a type of bed in which one bed is stacked on top of another. ... A four poster bed is a bed with four posts which support a tester. ... A sleeping bag is a protective bag for a person to sleep in, essentially a blanket that can be closed with a zipper or similar means, and functions as a bed in situations where it is impractical to carry around a full bed. ... Garden hammock A couple in a hammock on the beach The hammock is a fabric sling used for sleeping or resting. ... Dream worlds are a commonly used plot device in fictional works, most notably in science fiction and fantasy fiction. ...

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