Bolster

[[File:bolst.JPG|thumb|Bed with pillow (right) and bolster (left)]] thumb|A bolster pillow

A '''bolster''' is a long narrow pillow or cushion filled with cotton, down or fibre.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bolster|title=Bolster|publisher=The Free Dictionary By Farlex|access-date=2012-05-20}}</ref> Bolsters are usually firm for back or arm support or for decorative application.<ref name="Von Tobel 2009">Von Tobel, Jackie. "Neck Rolls and Bolsters." The Design Directory of Bedding. Layton, UT: Gibbs Smith, 2009. 275. Print.</ref> They are not a standard size or shape and commonly have a zipper or hook-and-loop enclosure.<ref name="Von Tobel 2009"/> A foam insert is sometimes used for additional support.<ref name="Von Tobel 2009"/> A bolster is also referred to as a cushion, a pillow and a ''prop''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thesaurus.com/browse/bolster+?s=tt|title=Bolster|publisher=Thesaurus.com|access-date=2012-05-20|archive-date=2018-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307150854/http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/bolster+?s=tt|url-status=dead}}</ref> A bolster pillow is a common shape for lace pillows.

==Etymology== The word is from both Middle and Old English, and is a cognate of the Old English {{Lang|ang|belg}}, 'bag'.<ref name="merriam-webster">{{cite web| url= http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bolster|title=Bolster|publisher=Merriam Webster|access-date=2012-05-20}}</ref> The first known use of the word ''bolster'' was before the 12th century.<ref name="merriam-webster" />

==Southeast and South Asia== In Southeast Asian countries, in particular Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand, the bolster is designed to be hugged when sleeping. In Vietnam, it is known as {{Lang|vi|gối ôm}} ('hugging pillow') or {{Lang|vi|pillowy}}, while in the Philippines, the traditional {{Lang|tl|dantayan}} is also colloquially known as a 'hotdog pillow'. Cambodians call it a {{Lang|km|ខ្នើយអោប}}, which directly translates to 'hug pillow'. Malaysians call it {{Lang|zsm|bantal peluk}} ('hug pillow'), and Indonesians call it {{Lang|id|guling}} ('roll pillow'). In Indonesia, it is also known colloquially as a ''Dutch Wife'' as it is believed that the pillow was invented by Dutch colonialists''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History Of The 'Dutch Wife': Indonesia As The Only Nation That Sleeps With A Bolster |url=https://voi.id/en/memori/7100/history-of-the-dutch-wife-indonesia-as-the-only-nation-that-sleeps-with-a-bolster |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316071606/https://voi.id/en/memori/7100/history-of-the-dutch-wife-indonesia-as-the-only-nation-that-sleeps-with-a-bolster |archive-date=2021-03-16}}</ref>'' In Thailand, it is known as {{Lang|th|หมอนข้าง}} ({{Transliteration|th|monkhang}}); {{Lang|th|หมอน}} ({{Transliteration|th|mon}}) means 'pillow' and {{Lang|th|ข้าง}} ({{Transliteration|th|khang}}) means 'beside'.

In India and Pakistan, a type of bolster is known there as a {{Transliteration|mr|lode}} (in Marathi), {{Transliteration|bn|gao-takkiya}}, {{Transliteration|bn|masnad masland}}, or {{Transliteration|bn|paash-baalish/kol-baalish}} (in Bengali), ''tool viharo'' (in Sindhi) and is used for back support aside from hugging during sleep.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sproutsofspring.com/2011/06/bolster-pillow-meets-gao-takiya.html |title=Bolster Pillow Meets Gao Takiya | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319162053/http://www.sproutsofspring.com/2011/06/bolster-pillow-meets-gao-takiya.html |date=2011-11-06|author=SproutsOfSpring | archive-date=2012-03-19 }}</ref>

== East Asia == In China, it is called {{Transliteration|zh|bàozhěn}} in Mandarin (simplified: {{Lang|zh|抱枕}}, 'hugging pillow'), while in Cantonese it is known as {{Lang-zh|w=laam2 zam2|labels=no}} (traditional: {{Lang|zh|攬枕}}; pinyin: {{Transliteration|zh|lǎn zhěn}}).

Bolsters are called ''dakimakura'' ({{Lang|ja|抱き枕}}) in Japan. Tradition suggests that a wife would fashion the bolster made of bamboo and give it to her husband when he travelled away from home so that he would not be lonely at night, hence the alternative terms ''bamboo wife'', ''Dutch wife'', or ''chikufujin'' ({{Lang|ja|竹夫人}}).

In Korea, it is referred to as a {{Transliteration|ko|jukbuin}} ({{Lang|ko|죽부인}}), from the words {{Transliteration|ko|juk}} ('bamboo') and {{Transliteration|ko|puin}} ('wife'). A {{Transliteration|ko|jukbuin}} is used in the summer months to cool down while sleeping, since its hollow construction from thin bamboo strips allows air to flow through the pillow. A person tightly wraps their arms and legs around the {{Transliteration|ko|jukbuin}} while sleeping.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://koreabridge.net/post/korean-traditional-objects-everyday-use-breeze |title=Korean Traditional Objects of Everyday Use |publisher=Koreabridge |date=2011-08-29 |access-date=2013-03-19}}</ref>

== Western countries == In western countries, a bolster is usually placed at the head of one's bed and functions as head or lower back support, or as an arm support on furniture with high rigid sides. Bolster pillows are also used as bumpers in cribs and for lounging on the floor in family and children's rooms.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

In the United States, body pillows resemble bolsters and are designed to be hugged when sleeping.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

In Denmark and Norway, it is called a {{Lang|da|pølle}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=pølle |url=https://ordnet.dk/ddo/ordbog?query=p%C3%B8lle |access-date=2022-07-24 |website=Den Danske Ordbog |language=da}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=pølle |url=https://naob.no/ordbok/p%C3%B8lle |access-date=2022-07-24 |website=Det Norske Akademis ordbok |language=nb}}</ref>

In France, it is called a {{Lang|fr|traversin}}{{fact|date=February 2025}} or {{Lang|fr|polochon}}{{fact|date=February 2025}} and is mostly used as a pillow, especially by the elderly in rural areas, but also for summer camps.

== See also == * Truck bolster

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

Category:Bedding