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Word Study
bolster
CIDE DICTIONARY
bolster, n. [AS. bolster; akin to Icel. b, Sw. & Dan. bolster, OHG. bolstar, polstar, G. polster; from the same root as E. bole stem, bowl hollow vessel. Cf. Bulge, Poltroon.].
- A long pillow or cushion, used to support the head of a person lying on a bed; -- generally laid under the pillows. [1913 Webster]"And here I'll fling the pillow, there the bolster,
This way the coverlet, another way the sheets." [1913 Webster] - A pad, quilt, or anything used to hinder pressure, support any part of the body, or make a bandage sit easy upon a wounded part; a compress. [1913 Webster]"This arm shall be a bolster for thy head." [1913 Webster]
- Anything arranged to act as a support, as in various forms of mechanism, etc. [1913 Webster]
- A cushioned or a piece part of a saddle. [1913 Webster]
- A cushioned or a piece of soft wood covered with tarred canvas, placed on the trestletrees and against the mast, for the collars of the shrouds to rest on, to prevent chafing. [1913 Webster]
- A plate of iron or a mass of wood under the end of a bridge girder, to keep the girder from resting directly on the abutment. [1913 Webster]
- A transverse bar above the axle of a wagon, on which the bed or body rests. [1913 Webster]
- The crossbeam forming the bearing piece of the body of a railway car; the central and principal cross beam of a car truck. [1913 Webster]
- the perforated plate in a punching machine on which anything rests when being punched. [1913 Webster]
- That part of a knife blade which abuts upon the end of the handle. G. Francis. [1913 Webster]
- The rolls forming the ends or sides of the Ionic capital. G. Francis. [1913 Webster]
- A block of wood on the carriage of a siege gun, upon which the breech of the gun rests when arranged for transportation."[See Illust. of
Gun carriage .]" [1913 Webster]
bolster, v. t.
- To support with a bolster or pillow. S. Sharp. [1913 Webster]
- To support, hold up, or maintain with difficulty or unusual effort; -- often with up. [1913 Webster]"To bolster baseness." [1913 Webster]"Shoddy inventions designed to bolster up a factitious pride." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
bolster, n. & v.
--n.
1 a long thick pillow.
2 a pad or support, esp. in a machine.
3 Building a short timber cap over a post to increase the bearing of the beams it supports.
--v.tr. (usu. foll. by up)
1 encourage, reinforce (bolstered our morale).
2 support with a bolster; prop up.
--n.
1 a long thick pillow.
2 a pad or support, esp. in a machine.
3 Building a short timber cap over a post to increase the bearing of the beams it supports.
--v.tr. (usu. foll. by up)
1 encourage, reinforce (bolstered our morale).
2 support with a bolster; prop up.
Derivative
bolsterer n.
bolster, n. a chisel for cutting bricks.
Etymology
20th c.: orig. uncert.
THESAURUS
bolster
advance, affirm, afford support, aid, air mattress, assist, assure, attest, authenticate, back, back up, bear, bear out, bear up, bedding, bolster up, brace, brace up, buck up, buoy up, buttress, carry, certify, cheer, circumstantiate, confirm, corroborate, cradle, crutch, cushion, document, embolden, encourage, finance, fortify, fund, further, give support, hearten, help, hold, hold up, innerspring mattress, inspire, inspirit, keep, keep afloat, keep up, lend support, litter, mainstay, maintain, mat, mattress, nerve, pad, pallet, pillow, probate, prop, prop up, prove, ratify, reassure, reinforce, rug, shore, shore up, shoulder, sleeping bag, springs, stay, strengthen, subsidize, substantiate, subvention, subventionize, support, sustain, underbed, underbedding, underbrace, undergird, underlie, underpin, underset, upbear, uphold, upkeep, validate, verify, warrantROGET THESAURUS
bolster
Aid
VB aid, assist, help, succor, lend one's aid, come to the aid, of, contribute, subscribe to, bring aid, give aid, furnish aid, afford aid, supply aid, give a helping hand, stretch a hand, lend a helping hand, lend a hand, bear a helping hand, hold out a hand, hold out a helping hand, give one a life, give one a cast, give one a turn, take by the hand, take in tow, help a lame dog over a stile, lend wings to, relieve, rescue, set up, set agoing, set on one's legs, bear through, pull through, give new life to, be the making of, reinforce, reenforce, recruit, set forward, put forward, push forward, give a lift, give a shove, give an impulse to, promote, further, forward, advance expedite, speed, quicken, hasten, support, sustain, uphold, prop, hold up, bolster, cradle, nourish, nurture, nurse, dry nurse, suckle, put out to nurse, manure, cultivate, force, foster, cherish, foment, feed the flame, fan the flame, serve, do service to, tender to, pander to, administer to, subminister to, minister to, tend, attend, wait on, take care of, entertain, smooth the bed of death, oblige, accommodate, consult the wishes of, humor, cheer, encourage, second, stand by, back, back up, pay the piper, abet, work for, make interest for, stick up for, take up the cudgels for, take up the cause of, espouse the cause of, adopt the cause of, advocate, beat up for recruits, press into the service, squire, give moral support to, keep in countenance, countenance, patronize, lend oneself to, lend one's countenance to, smile upon, shine upon, favor, befriend, take in hand, enlist under the banners of, side with, be of use to, subserve, benefit, render a service, conduce.Support
N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.Also see definition of "bolster" in Bible Study Dictionaries
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