bolster

[ bohl-ster ]

noun

1. a long, often cylindrical, cushion or pillow for a bed, sofa, etc.
2. anything resembling this in form or in use as a support.
3. any pillow, cushion, or pad.
4. Nautical.
   1. Also called bolster plate. a circular casting on the side of a vessel, through which an anchor chain passes.
   2. a timber used as a temporary support.
   3. a beam for holding lines or rigging without chafing.
   4. a bag filled with buoyant material, fitted into a small boat.
5. Metalworking. an anvillike support for the lower die of a drop forge.
6. Masonry.
   1. a timber or the like connecting two ribs of a centering.
   2. a chisel with a blade splayed toward the edge, used for cutting bricks.
7. Carpentry. a horizontal timber on a post for lessening the free span of a beam.
8. a structural member on which one end of a bridge truss rests.

verb (used with object)

1. to support with or as with a pillow or cushion.
2. to add to, support, strengthen, or uphold (sometimes followed by up ):

   They bolstered their morale by singing.

   He bolstered up his claim with new evidence.

   Synonyms: fortify, reinforce, aid, sustain, strengthen

bolster

/ ˈbəʊlstə /

verb

1. often foll by up to support or reinforce; strengthen

   to bolster morale

2. to prop up with a pillow or cushion
3. to add padding to

   to bolster a dress

noun

1. a long narrow pillow or cushion
2. any pad or padded support
3. architect a short horizontal length of timber fixed to the top of a post to increase the bearing area and reduce the span of the supported beam
4. a cold chisel having a broad blade splayed towards the cutting edge, used for cutting stone slabs, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈbolsterer, noun
• ˈbolstering, nounadjective

Other Words From

• bol·ster·er noun
• un·bol·ster verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of bolster¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English bolstre (noun), Old English bolster; cognate with Old Norse bolstr, Dutch bolster, German Polster

Word History and Origins

Origin of bolster¹

Old English bolster ; related to Old Norse bolstr , Old High German bolstar , Dutch bulster

Synonym Study

See cushion.

Example Sentences

We recommend getting a bed with bolsters, which provide a sense of security and satisfies their natural instinct to dig and burrow.

From Popular-Science

To bolster my case I told him we should actually call it Pursuito, like Vertigo or Psycho.

From The Daily Beast

Low-income work was a necessity, either to make up for the absence of a man or to bolster his own low-income paycheck.

From The Daily Beast

Critics also argue the military assistance may be coming too late to bolster mainstream rebels.

From The Daily Beast

This will likely get worse as police bolster their web surveillance capabilities.

From The Daily Beast

“This reduces a potential drag to the economy and will bolster growth for the remainder of 2014,” Handler notes.

From The Daily Beast

After you have repeated the Correlation, then repeat the two extremes, thus—“Anchor” … “Bolster.”

From Project Gutenberg

The motive of this harmless ruse was to bolster up Spanish prestige and thereby avoid bloodshed.

From Project Gutenberg

If there is no bolster, two pillows are sometimes laid flat in its place, and two pillows set on edge upon them.

From Project Gutenberg

If shams are used they should be spread over the pillows and bolster as smoothly as possible.

From Project Gutenberg

If you are preparing the bed for a stranger put the bolster and pillows back on the bed and allow the guest to arrange them later.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aid
• boost
• buoy
• buttress
• cushion
• help
• maintain
• reinforce
• shore up
• strengthen
• support
• sustain