8. The crossbeam forming the bearing piece of the body of a railway car; the central and principal cross beam of a car truck.
9. (Mech.) the perforated plate in a punching machine on which anything rests when being punched.
10. (Cutlery) (a) That part of a knife blade which abuts upon the end of the handle. (b) The metallic end of a pocketknife handle. G. Francis.
11. (Arch.) The rolls forming the ends or sides of the Ionic capital. G. Francis.
12. (Mil.) A block of wood on the carriage of a siege gun, upon which the breech of the gun rests when arranged for transportation. [See Illust. of Gun carriage.]
Bolster work (Arch.), members which are bellied or curved outward like cushions, as in friezes of certain classical styles.
Bol"ster, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bolstered (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Bolstering.] 1. To support with a bolster or pillow. S. Sharp.
2. To support, hold up, or maintain with difficulty or unusual effort; -- often with up.
To bolster baseness.
Drayton.
Shoddy inventions designed to bolster up a factitious pride.
Compton Reade.
Bol"stered (&?;), a. 1. Supported; upheld.