Definition of bolster

• n. - A long pillow or cushion, used to support the head of a person lying on a bed; -- generally laid under the pillows.
• n. - 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.
• n. - Anything arranged to act as a support, as in various forms of mechanism, etc.
• n. - A cushioned or a piece part of a saddle.
• n. - 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.
• n. - Anything used to prevent chafing.
• n. - 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.
• n. - A transverse bar above the axle of a wagon, on which the bed or body rests.
• n. - The crossbeam forming the bearing piece of the body of a railway car; the central and principal cross beam of a car truck.
• n. - the perforated plate in a punching machine on which anything rests when being punched.
• n. - That part of a knife blade which abuts upon the end of the handle.
• n. - The metallic end of a pocketknife handle.
• n. - The rolls forming the ends or sides of the Ionic capital.
• n. - A block of wood on the carriage of a siege gun, upon which the breech of the gun rests when arranged for transportation.
• v. t. - To support with a bolster or pillow.
• v. t. - To support, hold up, or maintain with difficulty or unusual effort; -- often with up.
• n. - A long pillow or cushion, used to support the head of a person lying on a bed; -- generally laid under the pillows.
• n. - 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.
• n. - Anything arranged to act as a support, as in various forms of mechanism, etc.
• n. - A cushioned or a piece part of a saddle.
• n. - 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.
• n. - Anything used to prevent chafing.
• n. - 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.
• n. - A transverse bar above the axle of a wagon, on which the bed or body rests.
• n. - The crossbeam forming the bearing piece of the body of a railway car; the central and principal cross beam of a car truck.
• n. - the perforated plate in a punching machine on which anything rests when being punched.
• n. - That part of a knife blade which abuts upon the end of the handle.
• n. - The metallic end of a pocketknife handle.
• n. - The rolls forming the ends or sides of the Ionic capital.
• n. - A block of wood on the carriage of a siege gun, upon which the breech of the gun rests when arranged for transportation.
• v. t. - To support with a bolster or pillow.
• v. t. - To support, hold up, or maintain with difficulty or unusual effort; -- often with up.