View source for Pillow

{{Short description|Cushion for the head}}
{{distinguish|Cushion}}
{{Redirect|Pillowcase|the song by Gabbie Hanna|2WayMirror|other uses|Pillow (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect|Body pillow|the anime-themed type of pillow|Dakimakura}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
[[File:Pillows on a hotel bed.jpg|thumb|Pillows on a bed.]]
[[File:Average_White_Pillow.jpg|thumb|right|A typical pillow.]]
A '''pillow''' is a support of the body at rest for [[comfort]], [[therapy]], or decoration. Pillows are used in different variations by many species, including [[human]]s. Some types of pillows include throw pillows, body pillows, decorative pillows, and many more.<ref name="SanzCall2013">{{cite book|author1=Crickette M. Sanz|author2=Josep Call|author3=Christophe Boesch|title=Tool Use in Animals: Cognition and Ecology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xka-mKRz3swC&pg=PA184|date=7 March 2013|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-107-01119-9|pages=184–}}</ref> Pillows that aid sleeping are a form of [[bedding]] that supports the head and neck. Other types of pillows are designed to support the body when lying down or sitting. There are also pillows that consider human body shape for increased comfort during sleep. Decorative pillows used on beds, [[couch]]es or [[chair]]s are sometimes referred to as [[cushion]]s.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pillow|title=Pillow
|newspaper=Thefreedictionary.com
|publisher=The Free Dictionary By Farlex|access-date=2012-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Oxford English Dictionary|chapter-url=http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/143932|access-date=12 May 2015|chapter=Pillow, n.1a}}</ref>
In contemporary western culture, pillows consist of a plain or patterned fabric envelope (known as a pillowcase) which contains a soft stuffing, typically synthetic and typically standardized in sizes and shape.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/pillow?q=pillow|title=Pillow|publisher=Cambridge Dictionaries Online |access-date=2012-05-20}}</ref> Pillows have been historically made of a variety of natural materials and many cultures continue to use pillows made from natural materials in the world.
The word ''pillow'' comes from Middle English ''pilwe'', from Old English ''pyle'' (akin to Old High German ''pfuliwi'') and from Latin ''pulvinus''. The first known use of the word ''pillow'' was before the 12th century.<ref name=MerriamWebsterPillow>{{cite web| url= http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pillow|title=Pillow|publisher=Merriam Webster|access-date=2012-05-20}}</ref>
== History ==
[[File:Sleeping chimpanzee (9165242880).jpg|thumb|[[Common chimpanzee|Chimpanzee]] using its arm as a pillow.]]
Though the exact origin is unknown, use of pillows evolved in animals well into prehistory, the earliest examples including reptiles and mammals resting their heads on themselves, and one another, to support the head and neck.<ref name="SanzCall2013"/> Animals, including humans, evolved use of inanimate objects in their nests out of wood and stone as pillows.<ref name="SanzCall2013" /> Since [[domestication of animals|domestication]], many animals have also learned to make use of human-made pillows and cushions, as well as to rest on members of their own and other species, for this purpose.<ref name="SanzCall2013" />
Sometime between 5 and 23 million years ago tree-dwelling great apes began building sleeping platforms, including wooden pillows, to improve their sleep.<ref name="National Geographic News 2014" /> According to studies on chimpanzees that sleep up to eight to nine hours a night using specifically selected ironwood pillows, sturdy pillows enabled great apes to escape being hunted by night predators and not fall out of the trees while asleep.<ref name="National Geographic News 2014">{{cite web | title=Chimpanzees Make Beds That Offer Them Best Night's Sleep | website=National Geographic News | date=2014-04-18 | url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140416-chimpanzees-trees-sleep-beds-animals-science/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420124503/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140416-chimpanzees-trees-sleep-beds-animals-science/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 20, 2014 | access-date=2018-03-30}}</ref> It is likely that this was necessitated by the evolution of large, energy-consuming brains.<ref name="National Geographic News 2014" /> Though it may also have led to longer periods of [[Rapid eye movement sleep|REM sleep]], that in turn increased their cognitive capacity.<ref name="National Geographic News 2014" />
=== Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt ===
[[File:Egyptian wooden pillow with inscription on base Wellcome L0006750.jpg|thumb|right|An [[ancient Egypt]]ian wooden pillow.]]
The earliest recorded use of the modern human device dates back to the civilizations of [[Mesopotamia]] around 7,000 BC.<ref name="Levy 2002">{{cite book|last=Levy|first=Joel|title=Really Useful: The Origins of Everyday Things|url=https://archive.org/details/reallyusefulorig00levy|url-access=registration|year=2002|publisher=Firefly|location=Buffalo, NY}}</ref> During this time, only the wealthy used pillows.<ref name="Levy 2002" /> The number of pillows symbolized status so the more pillows one owned the more affluence they held.<ref name="Levy 2002" /> Pillows have long been produced around the world in order to help solve the reoccurring problem of neck, back, and shoulder pain while sleeping.<ref name="Soane 2007 13">{{cite book|last=Soane|first=Ely Banister|title=To Mesopotamia and Kurdistan In Disguise|year=2007|publisher=Cosmino, Inc.|page=13}}</ref> Besides for comfort, the pillow was also used for keeping bugs and insects out of people's hair, mouth, nose, and ears while sleeping.<ref name="Soane 2007 13" />
Pillow use has been associated with the mummies and tombs of [[ancient Egypt]] during the [[Eleventh dynasty of Egypt|11th dynasty]], dating to 2055–1985 B.C.<ref name="Seath 2006 546-550">{{cite journal|last=Seath|first=J. |author2=A.P. Gize |author3=A.R. David |author4=K. Hall |author5=P. Lythgoe |author6=R. Speak |author7=S. Caldwell|title=An atypical Ancient Egyptian pillow from Sedment el-Gebel: evidence for migrant worker trading and technology|journal=Journal of Archaeological Science|date=April 2006|volume=33|issue=4|pages=546–550|doi=10.1016/j.jas.2005.09.014|bibcode=2006JArSc..33..546S }}</ref> [[Ancient Egypt|Ancient Egyptian]] pillows were wooden or stone headrests.<ref name="Seath 2006 546-550" /> These pillows were mostly used by placing them under the heads of the deceased because the head of a human was considered to be the essence of life and sacred.<ref name="Seath 2006 546-550" />
=== Ancient Europe ===
The [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] and [[Ancient Greece|Greeks]] of ancient [[Europe]] mastered the creation of the softer type pillow. These pillows were stuffed with [[Reed (plant)|reeds]], [[Feather|feathers]], and [[straw]] in order to make them softer and more comfortable.<ref name="Smith 1875 456, 472, 473">{{cite book|last=Smith|first=William|title=A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities|year=1875|publisher=John Murray|location=London|pages=456, 472, 473}}</ref> Only upper-class people typically owned these softer pillows; however, all classes of people were allowed to use some type of pillow while sleeping, lying down or sitting in order to give them support.<ref name="Smith 1875 456, 472, 473" /> People in ancient Europe started to use pillows when going to church in order to kneel on while praying and to place holy books on.<ref name="Fehrman">{{cite web|last=Fehrman|first=Cherie|title=Fine Pillows For Collectors: A Brief History|url=http://www.fehrmanbooks.com/fine-pillows-for-collectors-a-brief-history|publisher=Fehrman Books|access-date=24 April 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629051001/http://www.fehrmanbooks.com/fine-pillows-for-collectors-a-brief-history|archive-date=29 June 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> This is a tradition that still lives on today. In addition, the Romans and Greeks used their pillows by placing them under the head of those deceased just like the ancient Egyptians did.<ref name="Smith 1875 456, 472, 473" />
=== Ancient China ===
[[File:Pillow, China, Jin dynasty, 1115-1234, glazed earthenware - Royal Ontario Museum - DSC04261.JPG|thumb|A pottery pillow from the [[Jīn dynasty]] (1115–1234).]]
[[File:Porcelain pillow. Huangling county, China. Jin period (1115 - 1234 CE.jpg|thumb|Porcelain pillow, Huangling county, Jin dynasty (1115–1234), China.]]
[[History of China|Chinese]] pillows were traditionally solid, though sometimes used with a softer fabric over them. Over many Chinese dynasties, pillows were made from a wide range of materials including bamboo, jade, porcelain, wood, and bronze.<ref name="Porcelain Pillows">{{cite web|title=Porcelain Pillows |url=http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_artqa/2003-09/24/content_37919.htm |date=24 September 2003 |work=chinaculture.org |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060316025400/http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_artqa/2003-09/24/content_37919.htm |archive-date=16 March 2006 }}</ref> Ceramic pillows became the most popular.<ref name="Porcelain Pillows" /> The use of the ceramic pillow first appeared in the Sui dynasty between 581 and 618 while mass production appeared in the Tang dynasty between 618 and 907.<ref name="Porcelain Pillows" /> The Chinese decorated their pillows by making them different shapes and by painting pictures of animals, humans, and plants on them.<ref name="Porcelain Pillows" /> One common type of pottery used was [[Cizhou ware]]. Chinese ceramic pillows reached their peak in terms of production and use during the [[Song dynasty|Song]], [[Jin dynasty (1115–1234)|Jin]], and [[Yuan dynasty|Yuan dynasties]] between the 10th and 14th century, but slowly phased out during the [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] and [[Qing dynasty|Qing dynasties]] between 1368 and 1911 with the emergence of better pillow making materials.<ref name="Porcelain Pillows" />
== Construction and parts ==
[[File:Japanese Pipe Pillow.jpg|thumb|A Japanese pillow filled with plastic tubes in a mesh sack.]]
[[File:Kapok seeds I IMG 8004.jpg|thumb|The fruit-fibres of the silk-cotton tree (''[[Ceiba pentandra]]'') are used as filler for traditional pillows in India.]]
Pillows consist of a filler material enclosed in a fabric cover or shell. Covers are made of [[cloth]], such as [[silk]], known as the pillow case or pillow slip. Some pillows have a fancier cover called a ''sham'' which is closed on all sides and usually has a slit in the back through which the pillow is placed. Rectangular standard bed pillow cases usually do not have zippers, but instead, have one side open all the time. Often, a zippered pillow protector is placed around standard pillows with the case in turn covering the protector.
Fillers are chosen on the basis of comfort, resilience, thermal properties, cost and also for medical and ethical reasons. The most common synthetic fillers are materials derived from polymer fibers, such as [[polyester]] and [[memory foam]]. Synthetic fillers in general are inexpensive and in the case of memory foam can retain their form longer. Natural fillers have been used since antiquity. The most common are [[feather]]s, [[down feathers|down]], [[wool]], [[latex]], [[cotton]] (particularly in [[India]]), and [[buckwheat]]. More exotic materials have also been used including straw, wood, or stone. Down is usually the softer filler and offer good [[Thermal insulation|insulation]], but is more expensive due to its relative scarcity. Down has been known to be plucked from live [[Goose|geese]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hay Newman|first1=Lily|title=What's Good for the Goose|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2014/10/patagonia_the_north_face_and_cruelty_free_down_industry_standards_for_ethical.html|website=Slate|date=29 October 2014|access-date=5 August 2017|quote="Down is harvested as a byproduct of the meat industry, and there are a number of ways that animals can suffer."}}</ref> but there are already [[cruelty-free]] certifications for down products.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Kealia Reynolds|title=What Is the Responsible Down Standard and Why Should I Care?|url=https://responsibledown.org/what-is-the-responsible-down-standard-and-why-should-i-care/|website=Earth by Anna|access-date=23 May 2019|archive-date=29 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429051050/http://responsibledown.org/what-is-the-responsible-down-standard-and-why-should-i-care/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In India, traditional pillows are made with kapok, the fluffy, glossy fruit-fibres of the trees [[Ceiba pentandra]] and [[Bombax ceiba]].
== Lifespan, maintenance and waste management ==
The normal lifespan of a typical western pillow is two to four years.<ref name=we>{{cite web |url=https://www.warrenevans.com/help/pillow-guide/ |title=Help > Pillow Guide |newspaper=Https |access-date=26 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202032501/https://www.warrenevans.com/help/pillow-guide/ |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Condition of the pillow can be determined by checking for lumps or folding it in order to see if it stays in that shape.<ref>{{Cite web|title=When Should You Replace Your Pillow?|url=https://www.sleep.org/replace-pillow/|access-date=2021-01-21|website=Sleep.org|language=en-US}}</ref> Replacement is recommended for sanitary reasons. All types of pillow covers should be [[laundry|laundered]] periodically since they are the part that is in contact with a person's body. Pillows accumulate [[dust]] and [[microbe]]s among the fill, even when washable pillows are washed. Manufacturers recommend [[Clothes dryer|tumble-drying]] for fifteen minutes every week to freshen them up, and for the heat to kill dust mites. Charities in most countries will not accept used pillows due to hygiene regulations. While some animal shelters accept forms of bedding, most reject donation of used pillows due to the mess they can cause.
Recycling of pillows, like most textile and bedding items, is expensive and has poor yield.<ref name=wrap>{{cite web
| title = Co-collection of duvets and pillows with clothing in textile banks – theoretical example
| website = Wrap.co.uk
| publisher = Waste & Resources Action Programme
| date = October 20, 2016
| url = http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Co-collection%20of%20duvets%20and%20pillows%20with%20clothing%20in%20textile%20banks%20(the)%20FINAL_0.pdf
| access-date = March 30, 2018
| archive-date = March 30, 2018
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180330211309/http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Co-collection%20of%20duvets%20and%20pillows%20with%20clothing%20in%20textile%20banks%20(the)%20FINAL_0.pdf
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> As such, few are recycled and most end up in landfills.<ref name=we /> Their light weight means that they make up a low proportion of household waste by mass.<ref name=wrap/> Most of the few pillows collected for recycling are sent to India and Pakistan and used as low-cost bedding, or in South East Asia, co-mingled with other textiles to manufacture cheap bedding.<ref name=wrap />
== Types ==
A pillow is designed to provide support and comfort to the body and head. There are three main types of pillows; bed pillows, [[orthopedic pillow]]s and decorative pillows, with some overlapping of use between these. The appropriate size of a bed pillow depends on the size of the bed. Larger pillows than standard are available for queen- and king-sized beds.
The choice of bed pillow depends to some extent upon sleeping positions: one manufacturer recommends a thinner and softer pillow for sleeping face down, medium support for sleeping on one's back, and a thicker and firmer pillow for sleeping on the side.<ref name=we/>
=== Beds ===
[[File:Bed in Seattle hotel.jpg|thumb|Several pillows on a bed.]]
[[File:Picture of your average pillow, with the stains retouched.png|thumb|A typical pillow.]]
The classic bed pillow shape is usually a square or rectangle. In the US, they are common in these three sizes (in inches): Standard (20×26&nbsp;inches), Queen (20×30&nbsp;inches), and King (20×36&nbsp;inches). In the US, a less common size is Jumbo (20×28&nbsp;inches), which is larger than the Standard Size but smaller than the Queen Size.
Pillows are generally covered with a removable pillow case, which facilitates laundering. Apart from the color and from the material of which they are made, pillowcases have three contrasting characteristics:
* Size
* Features
* Opening/closing
''Size'' conforms to the pillow the case is to contain. They are typically described as:
;Standard
: {{convert|16|×|16|in|cm|abbr=on}} (square)
;Square
: {{convert|26|×|26|in|cm|abbr=on}}
;Standard
: {{convert|20|×|26|in|cm|abbr=on}}
;Queen
: {{convert|20|×|30|in|cm|abbr=on}}
;King
: {{convert|20|×|36|in|cm|abbr=on}}
''Square'' is also called ''continental'' in the UK. German pillow sizes are 80×80&nbsp;cm (older) or 40×80&nbsp;cm (newer). When considered as a subset of bed pillows, Euro pillows finish 26×26&nbsp;in and older style travel pillows commonly finished 12×16&nbsp;in.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}}
The main distinguishing feature is whether the pillow case is plain or with a valance around the edge. In the former case this is described as 'plain style' and in the latter as 'Oxford style'.
{{cite quote|date=January 2012}}<blockquote>"Oxford ... has a 5cm-10cm valance round all four sides. With a hemstitched or corded decoration around the inner edge of the valance."</blockquote>
The opening/closure of pillow cases ranges from the straightforward "bag style" common in the United States to the "housewife style" more common in Europe, with a pocket inside the open end to fully contain the pillow.
{{cite quote|date=January 2012}}<blockquote>"Housewife is ... essentially a bag, with a flap in the open end to tuck the pillowcase behind to keep it in..."</blockquote>
Other methods of closure are ties or buttons/buttonholes.
[[File:Body pillow.jpg|thumb|A body pillow with a light blue pillow case]]
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. Size is 40×140&nbsp;cm. (See also: [[wikt:Dutch wife|Dutch wife]])
====Bed pillow sizes====
{| class="wikitable"
! Location
! Class
! Dimension
|-
! rowspan="2" | Australia
| Standard
| {{cvt|48|x|73|cm|disp=br()}}
|-
| European
| {{cvt|65|x|65|cm|disp=br()}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | United Kingdom
| "Europe" Standard
| {{cvt|65|x|65|cm|disp=br()}}
|-
| "Europe" Continental
| {{cvt|80|x|80|cm|disp=br()}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | Germany
| Standard
| {{cvt|80|x|80|cm|disp=br()}}
|-
| Small
| {{cvt|40|x|80|cm|disp=br()}}
|-
! Danmark
| Standard
| {{cvt|60|x|60|cm|disp=br()}}
|-
! Netherlands, France
| Standard
| {{cvt|60|x|66|cm|disp=br()}}
|-
! Sweden
| Standard
| {{cvt|50|x|60|cm|disp=br()}}
|-
! Italy, Norway, Spain
| Standard
| {{cvt|50|x|70|cm|disp=br()}}
|-
! Poland
| Standard
| {{cvt|70|x|90|cm|disp=br()}}
|-
! rowspan="4" | United States
| Standard
| {{cvt|20|x|26|in|cm|order=flip|disp=br()}}
|-
| Jumbo
| {{cvt|20|x|28|in|cm|order=flip|disp=br()}}
|-
| Queen
| {{cvt|20|x|30|in|cm|order=flip|disp=br()}}
|-
| King
| {{cvt|20|x|36|in|cm|order=flip|disp=br()}}<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-07|title=Pillow Sizes and Dimensions Guide|url=https://savvysleeper.org/pillow-sizes-and-dimensions/|access-date=2021-01-21|website=Savvy Sleeper|language=en-US}}</ref>
|}
=== Orthopedic ===
{{main|Orthopedic pillow}}
[[File:Panda shaped neck pillow.JPG|thumb|Panda shaped travel pillow.]]
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. Cervical pillows help patients to maintain comfortable positioning after therapeutic, orthopedic and surgical measures.<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.surgicalunits.com/cervical-pillow-396.html/|title=Cervical Pillow – Surgical Units |website=Surgical Units, Inc.|date=26 November 2016 |access-date=2016-11-26}}</ref>
Travel pillows provide support for the neck 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 can sometimes force the head forward, creating neck stiffness.
[[Doughnut]] 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 (anatomy)|colon]].
[[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]]. Orthopedic pillows are similar to [[memory foam]] pillows.
=== Decorative ===
{{see also|Throw pillow}}
[[File:Arabesqui-moro-decoration 33.jpg|thumb|Decorated pillows piled on the corner of a sofa.]]
Decorative pillows serve a dual purpose. They often have fancy cover material which serves to decorate the room where they are found. Since decorative textiles are commonly 54&nbsp;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 washable pillow case, thus, while found on the bed, they are primarily there for decoration, hence they fall under this category. These pillows may be custom made, as well as made by freelancers.
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 may not be 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]]" may refer to the way they generally arrive in their places.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Decorative Pillows - Basic Knowledge - Uses|url=https://www.poshipo.com/blogs/poshipo-news/decorative-pillows-basic-knowledge-uses|access-date=2021-01-21|website=Poshipo|language=en}}</ref>
Novelty pillows are shaped like humorous objects (a banana, tweety bird, a human leg, a chainsaw, a dill pickle, a former president) and are meant to brighten up and add humor to a room or lounge area.
Tent-flap pillows are placed at the front of a stack of pillows decorating a bed. This pillows have a separate flap of fabric that is attached at the top of the pillow and folds down over the face. The tent flap can be loose or tacked down; if the flap is loose a decorative tassel or bead is usually used to weigh the flap down so it hangs properly.<ref>{{cite book|author=Von Tobel, Jackie |title=The Design Directory of Bedding|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JBLJ5pwTy1UC&pg=PA236|date= 2014|publisher=Gibbs Smith|isbn=978-1-4236-1244-5|page=236}}</ref>
Floor pillows are another subset of decorative pillows. These pillows often finish 26×26&nbsp;inches (one half of the width of the textile, less seam allowance).
=== Combination pillow ===
A combination pillow is a pillow which is for those sleepers which are sleeping in a combination of positions and would like to use their pillow to hug or play.<ref>{{cite book|author=Lucy sarah |title=The combination sleepers book|url=https://being-honest.com/pillows-for-combination-sleepers/|date= 2014|publisher=Lucy sarah|isbn=978-1-4236-1244-5|page=236}}</ref>
== Culture ==
[[File:Turkish pillow.JPG|thumb|An embroidered Turkish pillow.]]
In many parts of the world, pillows have cultural significance, and references have extended to a wide variety of other uses, forms and activities.
===Comfort pillows===
In some cultures, pillows have forms for hugging. An example is the ''[[Dakimakura]]'', a kind of "hugging pillow" originating in [[Japan]] that have been endowed with anthropomorphic and zoomorphic qualities and pop culture references for additional psychological comfort. Other types of hugging pillows are more practical, such as the ''Guling'', long hugging pillow originating from [[Indonesia]] and the ''Abrazador'', a long hugging pillow originating from [[Philippines|the Philippines]]. A ''husband pillow'' (also known as a boyfriend pillow) is a large, high-backed pillow with two "arms." It is used to prop the user upright while in bed or on the floor, as for reading or watching [[television]]. Because of this common use, a husband pillow is also called a reading pillow.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Murphy|first=Nathanael|title=Reading Pillow to Husband Pillow-An Historical Perspective Currently|url=https://www.academia.edu/7820612|language=en}}</ref>
===Activities===
====Pillow fighting====
{{main|Pillow fight}}
[[File:Piazza_Maggiore_pillow_fight_2008.jpg|thumb|Large public pillow fight.]]
A pillow fight is a common game mostly played by young children (but also by teens and adults) in which they engage in mock physical conflict, using pillows as weapons.
Pillow fights are known to occasionally occur during children's sleepovers. Since pillows are usually soft, injuries rarely occur. The heft of a pillow can still knock a young person off balance, especially on a soft surface such as a bed, which is a common venue. In earlier eras, pillows would often break, shedding feathers throughout a room. Modern pillows tend to be stronger and are often filled with a solid block of artificial filling, so breakage occurs far less frequently.
====Pillow talk====
{{main|Pillow talk}}
Pillow talk refers to the relaxed, intimate conversation that often occurs between two [[sexual partner]]s after [[sexual activity]], usually accompanied by cuddling, caresses, and other [[physical intimacy]]. It is associated with honesty, sexual afterglow, and [[Human bonding|bonding]].<ref>E. Raynor, ''The Happiest Woman'' (2011) p. 37</ref> In the Western world there are many cultural references to pillow talk.
===Chinese rock pillows===
Chinese rock pillows ({{zh|t=石頭枕頭|s=石头枕头|hp=shítou zhěntou}}) played an important role in ancient China. Made from [[jade]], they were believed to translate the energy from the stone to the human brain.{{fact|date=December 2019}} Originating in the [[Ming dynasty]], this piece of material was trusted to cure headaches or depression, or simply to better the intelligence of those who use it. It was more common among royalty because it was expensive and rare. Families often married off children based on the quality and intricacy of these pillows. Today, rock pillows are still commonly used during the hot summer months in China.{{fact|date=December 2019}}
===Pillows for parts of the body===
Cushioning designed for specific parts of the body are sometimes called pillows. An example is [[eye pillow]]s which are designed to comfort the eyes. Some [[mousemat]]s feature wrist rests, that while not generally called pillows, are another example.
===Sex pillows===
A sex pillow is a specially-designed and typically firm pillow used to enhance sexual intercourse. An ordinary firm pillow, however, may be used in place of a special one. Some contain a high-density urethane core to balance firm support with softness. In addition to more common pillow shapes, there are wedge-shaped, ramp-shaped, prism-shaped, etc. pillows which lend themselves to various sexual positions, some of which might be difficult or uncomfortable without them. A very common use of a sex pillow is to place it under the receiving partner's buttocks or hips before assuming the [[missionary position]]; this pivots the pelvis and increases depth of penetration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eioba.com/a70097/interesting_sex_positions|title=Interesting sex positions<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=2020-04-03|archive-date=2010-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325161713/http://www.eioba.com/a70097/interesting_sex_positions|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Pillow menu===
A '''pillow menu''' is a list of available pillows provided by a [[hotel]] to guests, usually free of charge.<ref>{{cite news |last=Trucco |first=Terry |date=2005-07-24 |title=A Dream Room May Depend on the Pillow |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/24/travel/a-dream-room-may-depend-on-the-pillow.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529192517/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/24/travel/a-dream-room-may-depend-on-the-pillow.html |archive-date=2015-05-29 |access-date=2015-05-29 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref> It allows guests to make an alternative pillow choice. Some common pillow alternatives are [[memory foam]], [[buckwheat]] hull, and [[hypoallergenic]]. Some hotels offer pillows to treat specific conditions such as [[headache]]s or [[Stress (biology)|stress]].
== See also ==
{{Commons category|Pillows}}
* [[Bedding]]
* [[Bolster]]
* [[Duvet]]
* [[Mattress]]
* [[Sachet (scented bag)]]
* [[Upholstery]]
* [[Cushion]]
== References ==
{{Reflist|33em}}
{{Pillows}}
{{SleepSeries2}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Pillows| ]]
[[Category:Furnishings]]