hop-pillow

A person rests their head on a hop-pillow before sleeping.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A pillow filled with hops: A "hop-pillow" is a pillow stuffed with dried hop flowers (Humulus lupulus), traditionally used to promote sleep due to the mild sedative properties of hops.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She placed a hop-pillow under her head to help her fall asleep more easily. (The pillow contained dried hops for their calming effect.)
  • In the 19th century, a hop-pillow was a common folk remedy for insomnia. (The pillow was used as a natural sleep aid.)

Advanced Usage

• "to rest on a hop-pillow": to use such a pillow for its intended purpose.
  • The herbalist recommended resting on a hop-pillow every night for a week. (Using the pillow to benefit from the hops' soothing aroma.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hop (n): the dried flower of the hop plant, used in brewing beer and in herbal medicine.
  • The pillow was filled with fresh, aromatic hops. (The plant material used in the pillow.)
• Pillow (n): a cushion for the head during sleep.
  • A hop-pillow is just a regular pillow with a special filling. (The base object modified with hops.)

Synonyms

• Sleep pillow: a pillow designed to aid sleep (general term).
• Herbal pillow: a pillow stuffed with herbs, including hops.

Related Idioms

• "To hit the pillow": to go to bed (not specific to hop-pillows but related to sleep).
  • After a long day, he hit the pillow and fell asleep instantly. (He went to bed.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Pillow up: to arrange or plump a pillow for comfort.
  • She pillowed up the hop-pillow before lying down. (She fluffed and positioned the pillow.)