Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun An inflatable bag containing a
valve at its neck that retains the air in the bag until pressure is put on it (usually by someone unintentionally sitting on it after it has been placed on a chair by someone else as apractical joke ), when the air isexpelled with a sound similar to that of someonebreaking wind .
Etymologies
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Examples
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treeseed commented on the word whoopee cushion
A whoopee cushion, also known as a poo-poo cushion and Razzberry Cushion, is a practical joke device that produces a noise resembling a raspberry or human flatulence. It is made from two sheets of rubber that are glued together at the edges. There is a small opening with a flap at one end for air to enter and leave the cushion.
To use it, one must first inflate it with air and then place it on a chair. An unsuspecting victim sits on the whoopee cushion, forcing the air out of the opening, which causes the flap to vibrate and produce its distinctive sound.
The item was invented around 1950 by the Jem Rubber Co. of Toronto, Canada, by employees who were experimenting with scrap sheets of rubber. The owner of the company approached Samuel Adams, the inventor of numerous practical jokes and owner of S.S. Adams Co., with the newly invented item. Adams said that the item was "too vulgar" and would never sell. Fortunately for Jem Rubber, other companies were interested and the product quickly proved to be a success.
_Wikipedia
February 5, 2008
gangerh commented on the word whoopee cushion
And 'raspberry' comes from cockney rhyming slang 'raspberry tart' = 'fart'.
February 5, 2008
bilby commented on the word whoopee cushion
"One company created an application for iPhone that allowed it to be used as a laptop modem and, after releasing the software for sale, Apple removed it without explanation. Another company created a 99c whoopee cushion application, which Apple refused to release, despite having no rules for developers about bodily noises in applications."
- Dan Warne, 'Google takes aim at Apple's iPhone', WA Today, 15 September 2008.
September 16, 2008
Prolagus commented on the word whoopee cushion
Apparently, they changed their mind.
December 27, 2008
zaggan commented on the word whoopee cushion
my sister loves to stick these on my seat before i sit down.
May 28, 2009