A hassock is essentially the same thing as a footstool or ottoman, a small, cushioned piece of furniture that serves as a footrest or small seat. The word hassock is of English origin and also refers to a cushion used in churches to kneel on when praying. A hassock can also mean a small, dense, tuft of grass that forms a hillock or tussock. The words hassock, footstool, and ottoman can be properly interchanged in most situations, except for when referring to a grassy area.

In the home, a hassock or ottoman is a separate piece of furniture. Usually upholstered in leather or upholstery fabric, a hassock can be moved about the room and placed in front of any other piece of furniture to use as a footstool. The function of a hassock is to provide a comfortable padded place to prop up the feet.

In furniture retail, a hassock is generally sold as an ottoman in living room furniture sets. Generally speaking, a living room suite consisting of a couch, love seat, and chair will also have a matching ottoman available. Generally, an ottoman is big enough to serve as an extra seating space in a pinch. A hassock might be round, square, or oval in shape. In its true sense, it may not be quite large enough to be considered comfortable seating space.