zafu

American  

[za-foo] / zæˈfu /

noun

1. a round cushion used in Zen meditation.

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Etymology

Origin of zafu

First recorded in 1975–80; from Japanese, equivalent to za “seat” + fu “bulrush, cattail,” commonly mistranslated as “sewn seat”; see also zabuton ( def. )

Example Sentences

I dutifully crouched on a zafu cushion in a somewhat cramped room as a guide offered pleasant banalities on “letting go” and mentally rowing myself in a visionary canoe.

From Salon • Apr. 27, 2017

Dead of summer, but still the postman trudges forth to the mountaintop with questions for Mr. Critic, meditating on his zafu pillow.

From New York Times • Jul. 28, 2011