A hassock is a thick, firm cushion or low padded stool used as a footrest or extra seat. You might find one in a living room where someone props their feet up after a long day, or pull one over to reach a high shelf. Unlike a pillow that squishes flat when you sit on it, a hassock keeps its shape because it's stuffed densely with materials like cotton, foam, or even wood shavings.

The word comes from old churches, where hassocks were thick cushions people knelt on during long prayer services to protect their knees from cold stone floors. Many churches still use them today. Over time, people started using the same word for similar cushioned stools at home.

A hassock differs from an ottoman, though people sometimes confuse them. An ottoman is larger, more like a piece of furniture, while a hassock is smaller and portable. You can easily carry a hassock from room to room, tuck it in a corner when you don't need it, or use it as an impromptu seat when friends visit and you run out of chairs.