Why is a hearth pad called a "Hearth PAD" anyway?

[Slow1]

Anyone know the history of this name? My wife asked me and well.. I could make up some interesting answers, but....

 

[JustWood]

PAD= pointless after debate
between mars & venus is earth, H in Hearth stands for Hell totally dependent on whether venus or mars persists on the strongest pull or Heat when v&m;come together harmoniously,the general idea being to keep the fire off the floor & burning down the house while trying to keep the place warm.

some types of fire don't = combustion > 98.6 ...... insert mattress P.A.D.

 

[summit]

interesting.. probably worth of a little investigation.. i'll go to google, letcha know.. i have a feeling i'll have a slew of ads for hearthpads to weed thru...

 

[begreen]

Etymology of pad seems to be something with a number of sheets together as in a notepad or for softening contact. 1554 - "a bundle of straw" - lower Germany? But in the 60's pad was used to describe helicopter landing places and since then it seems to have taken on a lot more meanings. Our heat pump sits on a pad too.

Pook, methinks Hestia may visit tonight.

 

[firefighterjake]

Just a guess on my part, but when I hear folks talk about a pad it's in reference to a hard-packed base on which something heavy often will rest and the pad serves the purpose of supporting that object . . . i.e. a helicopter landing pad, a concrete pad for a building (or heat pump), etc. . . . perhaps the hearth pad is in reference to a hard surface on which the heavy woodstove sits?