[Japanese, ultimately (although the first syllable is now written with the kanji for fu, cloth) from early Mandarin p^hu´ t^hɔn´, a kind of mat (Modern Mandarin pútuán, cushion made from rushes, hassock made from cattails) : p^hu´, rushes, reeds, aquatic grasses (such as those used for bedding, for example) (from Middle Chinese pɦuə̆) + t^hɔn´, round, to roll into a ball (from Middle Chinese tɦuan).]