Bolster
A long narrow pillow used for support or hugging.
A bolster is a long narrow pillow or cushion filled with cotton, down or fibre, typically firm for back or arm support or for decorative application. It is not a standard size or shape and commonly has a zipper or hook-and-loop enclosure, sometimes with a foam insert for additional support. The word is from Middle and Old English, a cognate of Old English belg, 'bag', with the first known use before the 12th century.
- Type
- Pillow or cushion
- First known use
- Before the 12th century
- Etymology
- Middle and Old English, cognate of Old English belg ('bag')
- Common fillings
- Cotton, down, fibre, foam insert
- Common enclosures
- Zipper or hook-and-loop
- Alternative names
- Cushion, pillow, prop, Dutch wife, bamboo wife, hotdog pillow, hugging pillow
Lore & Background
In Southeast and South Asia, the bolster is designed to be hugged when sleeping. In Vietnam it is known as gối ôm ('hugging pillow'), in the Philippines as a 'hotdog pillow', in Cambodia as ខ្នើយអោប ('hug pillow'), in Malaysia as bantal peluk, and in Indonesia as guling, also colloquially called a Dutch Wife—though the term's origin is disputed among historians, with no established evidence linking it to Dutch colonialists. In Thailand it is called หมอนข้าง (monkhang). In India and Pakistan, types include lode, gao-takkiya, masnad masland, paash-baalish/kol-baalish, and tool viharo, used for back support and hugging.
Reader's Guide
In East Asia, bolsters are called bàozhěn in Mandarin, laam2 zam2 in Cantonese, and dakimakura in Japan, where tradition suggests a wife would fashion a bamboo bolster for her husband when he traveled, leading to the terms bamboo wife, Dutch wife, or chikufujin. In Korea, it is jukbuin, from juk ('bamboo') and puin ('wife'), used in summer for cooling due to its hollow bamboo strip construction. In western countries, bolsters are placed at the head of a bed for head or lower back support, or as arm support on furniture; they are also used as crib bumpers and for floor lounging. In the United States, body pillows resemble bolsters and are designed for hugging. In Denmark and Norway it is called pølle; in France, traversin or polochon, used as a pillow especially by the elderly in rural areas and for summer camps.
Did You Know?
- The first known use of the word 'bolster' was before the 12th century.
- In Indonesia, a bolster is colloquially called a 'Dutch Wife', though the term's origin is disputed and lacks verified historical evidence linking it to Dutch colonialists.
- In Korea, a jukbuin is made from thin bamboo strips to allow airflow and is used in summer.
- In Japan, a bamboo bolster is used for cooling in summer, but the tradition of a wife giving one to her traveling husband is apocryphal and not supported by reliable historical documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bolster?
A bolster is a long, narrow cushion or pillow designed primarily for back or arm support, though it also serves decorative purposes. Unlike standard pillows, it has no fixed size or shape and is typically firm to the touch.
What materials go inside a bolster?
Common fillings include cotton, down, or synthetic fibre, and some models add a foam insert for extra structural support. The outer shell usually features a zipper or hook-and-loop closure so the filling can be removed or adjusted.
Where does the word 'bolster' come from?
The term traces back to Middle and Old English and is a cognate of the Old English word 'belg,' meaning 'bag.' Its first recorded use dates to before the 12th century.
What other names do people use for a bolster?
Depending on the region or context, a bolster may be called a prop, a Dutch wife, a bamboo wife, a hotdog pillow, or simply a hugging pillow. It can also be referred to generically as a cushion or pillow.
How is a bolster different from a regular pillow?
While a standard pillow is roughly square or rectangular and soft, a bolster is elongated, narrow, and generally firmer, making it suited for leaning against or wrapping around. It also tends to have a more structured enclosure, such as a zipper or hook-and-loop fastening, to hold its shape.
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