bolster JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU
/ˈbəʊlstə/ · bol·ster
noun
- A large cushion or pillow. She rested her weary head on the bolster of the couch.
- A pad, quilt, or anything used to hinder pressure, support part of the body, or make a bandage sit easy upon a wounded part; a compress. The nurse applied a bolster to the patient's injured arm to reduce swelling.
- A small spacer located on top of the axle of horse-drawn wagons that gives the front wheels enough clearance to turn. The old wagon's bolster had to be replaced before it could be used again.
verb
- To brace, reinforce, secure, or support. The construction team bolstered the foundation of the building to prevent collapse.
Did you know? The term 'bolster' is often used in nautical contexts to describe a type of cushion or pillow used to support the back of a chair or sofa on a ship.