Bolstered

a long, often cylindrical, cushion or pillow for a bed, sofa, etc.
anything resembling this in form or in use as a support.
any pillow, cushion, or pad.
Nautical.

Also called bolster plate. a circular casting on the side of a vessel, through which an anchor chain passes.
a timber used as a temporary support.
a beam for holding lines or rigging without chafing.
a bag filled with buoyant material, fitted into a small boat.

Metalworking. an anvillike support for the lower die of a drop forge.
Masonry.

a timber or the like connecting two ribs of a centering.
a chisel with a blade splayed toward the edge, used for cutting bricks.

Carpentry. a horizontal timber on a post for lessening the free span of a beam.
a structural member on which one end of a bridge truss rests.
to support with or as with a pillow or cushion.
to add to, support, or uphold (sometimes followed by up):
They bolstered their morale by singing. He bolstered up his claim with new evidence.
Contemporary Examples

Poland Tries to Cope The Daily Beast April 10, 2010
Iran’s New Generation Reza Aslan February 10, 2009
Why the GOP’s Shutdown Insanity Won’t Hurt the Right Wing Jamelle Bouie September 19, 2013
The Godfather of Right-Wing Radio Caitlin Dickson November 22, 2014
NBA Players Are Wearing Sweatpants Again, but Now They Cost $550 Sujay Kumar November 10, 2013

Historical Examples

Janice Day Helen Beecher Long
Philothea Lydia Maria Child
Little Wolf M. A. Cornelius
Davenport Dunn, Volume 2 (of 2) Charles James Lever
The Night Riders Ridgwell Cullum

verb (transitive)
(often foll by up) to support or reinforce; strengthen: to bolster morale
to prop up with a pillow or cushion
to add padding to: to bolster a dress
noun
a long narrow pillow or cushion
any pad or padded support
(architect) a short horizontal length of timber fixed to the top of a post to increase the bearing area and reduce the span of the supported beam
a cold chisel having a broad blade splayed towards the cutting edge, used for cutting stone slabs, etc
n.
v.