01 n. A long pillow or cushion, used to support the head of a person lying on a bed; -- generally laid under the pillows.
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1.
A long pillow or cushion, used to support the head of a person lying on a bed; -- generally laid under the pillows.“And here I'll fling the pillow, there the bolster, This way the coverlet, another way the sheets.” — Shak.
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2.
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.“This arm shall be a bolster for thy head.” — Gay.
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3.
Anything arranged to act as a support, as in various forms of mechanism, etc.
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4.
A cushioned or a piece part of a saddle.(Saddlery)
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5.
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.(Naut.)
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6.
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.
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7.
A transverse bar above the axle of a wagon, on which the bed or body rests.
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8.
The crossbeam forming the bearing piece of the body of a railway car; the central and principal cross beam of a car truck.
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9.
the perforated plate in a punching machine on which anything rests when being punched.(Mech.)
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10.
That part of a knife blade which abuts upon the end of the handle.(Cutlery)
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11.
The rolls forming the ends or sides of the Ionic capital.(Arch.)
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12.
A block of wood on the carriage of a siege gun, upon which the breech of the gun rests when arranged for transportation.(Mil.)
Phrases & compounds
Bolster work —
members which are bellied or curved outward like cushions, as in friezes of certain classical styles.