Bolster

Lore & Background

The word is from both Middle and Old English, and is a cognate of the Old English 'bag'. The first known use of the word bolster was before the 12th century. 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 'hugging pillow' or , while in the Philippines, the traditional is also colloquially known as a 'hotdog pillow'.

Cambodians call it a , which directly translates to 'hug pillow'. Malaysians call it 'hug pillow', and Indonesians call it '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. In Thailand, it is known as ; means 'pillow' and means 'beside'.

East Asia

In India and Pakistan, a type of bolster is known there as a (in Marathi), , , or (in Bengali), tool viharo (in Sindhi) and is used for back support aside from hugging during sleep. In China, it is called in Mandarin ('hugging pillow'), while in Cantonese it is known as . Bolsters are called dakimakura 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.

In Korea, it is referred to as a , from the words 'bamboo' and 'wife'. A 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 while sleeping. 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.

Western countries

Bolster pillows are also used as bumpers in cribs and for lounging on the floor in family and children's rooms. In the United States, body pillows resemble bolsters and are designed to be hugged when sleeping. In Denmark and Norway, it is called a . In France, it is called a or and is mostly used as a pillow, especially by the elderly in rural areas, but also for summer camps.

Reader's Guide

A bolster is a long narrow pillow or cushion filled with cotton, down or fibre. Bolsters are usually firm for back or arm support or for decorative application. They are not a standard size or shape and commonly have a zipper or hook-and-loop enclosure. A foam insert is sometimes used for additional support.