beanbag

[ been-bag ]

noun

1. a small cloth bag filled with dried beans, as for tossing in various children's games.
2. any such game.
3. any similar bag used as a cushion or support, as the base for an ashtray, etc.
4. Also called beanbag chair. a large, soft, frameless chair resembling a beanbag, typically a clothlike plastic shell, filled with plastic chips, that molds itself readily to the contours of the occupant.

beanbag

/ ˈbiːnˌbæɡ /

noun

1. a small cloth bag filled with dried beans and thrown in games
2. Also calledsag bag a very large cushion loosely filled with foam rubber or polystyrene granules so that it moulds into a comfortable shape: used as an informal low seat

Word History and Origins

Origin of beanbag¹

First recorded in 1870–75; bean + bag

Example Sentences

Dozens were beaten with batons, hit by cars, doused in pepper spray and critically wounded by rubber bullets, beanbag rounds and other police weapons.

From Time

Whimsical word coinage is more prevalent than ever in a world where our lexicon is being continually fertilized by the playful spirit of those who play games of hallway Ping-Pong and lounge on beanbag chairs in our cyber-vineyards.

From Time

It’s basically a beanbag toss toward a sloped board with a hole in it.

From Freakonomics

Officers then turned to beanbag rounds, which also had no effect.

From Essence.com

In lieu of the regulation softball used in the game of Corner Ball, Martha had stitched together a sort of large beanbag.

From Project Gutenberg

You pasty-faced, overfed, white-livered beanbag experts, what do you mean by running a beauty show instead of a football game?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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• headrest
• mat