bolster: Meaning and Definition of

bol•ster

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.
1. Also calledbol&prim;ster plate&sec;.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. an anvillike support for the lower die of a drop forge.
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. 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.

1. to support with or as with a pillow or cushion.
2. to add to, support, or uphold (sometimes fol. by up): They bolstered their morale by singing. He bolstered up his claim with new evidence.