also: じょく
noun
Traditional Japanese term for a thick cushion or mattress used for sitting or sleeping, often associated with historical or formal contexts. In modern usage, 座布団 (zabuton) or マットレス (mattress) are more common.
旅館の部屋には、畳の上に褥が敷いてあった。
In the ryokan room, a mattress was laid out on the tatami.
昔の人は、褥を重ねて寝床
In the old days, people piled up cushions to make a bed.
Alternate kanji for しとね, less common than 褥.
Kana spelling is practical for learners and common in modern writing when the kanji is obscure.
Rarely used kanji form for じょく.
The historical derivation is uncertain; the kanji 褥 and 茵 are conventionally associated with bedding and cushions.