a block-like wood, metal, or concrete member that supports a bearing on top of a pier cap or abutment bridge seat It adjusts bearing heights (thus avoiding bridge-seat construction to the crown of the roadway), provides an area that may be ground to a precise elevation, or raises a bearing above moisture and debris that may collect on the bridge seat See also bridge pad
a transverse baulk of timber or steel to support long loads, such as timber, rail or metal products Usually found on single, twin or more recently bogie wagons Bolsters could be either fixed or swivelling See Caledonian Dgm 109, North Eastern Dgms D1, D2 & D3 for examples
If someone tries to bolster their position in a situation, they try to strengthen it. Britain is free to adopt policies to bolster its economy. = boost Bolster up means the same as bolster. an aid programme to bolster up their troubled economy
The crossbeam forming the bearing piece of the body of a railway car; the central and principal cross beam of a car truck
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
If you bolster something such as someone's confidence or courage, you increase it. Hopes of an early cut in interest rates bolstered confidence. = boost
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
a long cylindrical stuffed pillow or cushion; can be wedge-shaped or rectangular
A short horizontal timber or steel beam on top of a column to support and decrease the span of beams or girders
An erection of two uprights and a crossbar fitted to open lorries to enable long loads to be carried, projecting, if necessary above the cab
A block of wood on the carriage of a siege gun, upon which the breech of the gun rests when arranged for transportation
a pillow that is often put across a bed underneath the regular pillows support and strengthen; "bolster morale"
A bolster is a firm pillow shaped like a long tube which is sometimes put across a bed under the ordinary pillows. a long firm pillow, usually shaped like a tube