pad

{{11}}pad (n.) 1550s, "bundle of straw to lie on," possibly from Low Ger. or Flem. pad "sole of the foot." Meaning "cushion-like part of an animal foot" is from 1836 in English. Generalized sense of "something soft" is from c.1700; the sense of "a number of sheets fastened together" (in writing pad, drawing pad, etc.) is from 1865.

Sense of "takeoff or landing place for a helicopter" is from 1960. The word persisted in underworld slang from early 18c. in the sense "sleeping place," and was popularized again c.1959, originally in beatnik speech (later hippie slang) in its original sense of "place to sleep temporarily."

{{12}}pad (v.¹) "to walk," 1550s, probably from M.Du. paden "walk along a path, make a path," from pad, pat "path." Originally criminals' slang, perhaps of imitative origin (sound of feet trudging on a dirt road). Related: Padded; padding.

{{12}}pad (v.²) "to stuff, increase the amount of," 1827, from PAD (Cf. pad) (n.); transferred to expense accounts, etc. from 1913. Related: Padded; padding. Padded cell in an asylum or prison is from 1862 (padded room).