Where does “bolster” come from?

Bolster comes from Middle English bolstre, from Old English bolster, from Proto-Germanic bulstraz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰel-.

bolster (English): A large cushion or pillow; A pad, quilt, or...

Definitions

  1. A large cushion or pillow; A pad, quilt, or...

Ancestry of “bolster”, step by step

bolster traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German polster

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanpolsterpad, padding
2Middle High Germanpolster—
3Old High Germanpolstar—
4Old Norsebólstrbolster, pillow
5Proto-Germanicbulstrazbolster, pillow, cushion
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰelǵʰ-to swell
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰel-to sound; to speak, roar, bark; shiny, white; to...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰōl-—

via Middle English bolster

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishbolsterA soft stuffed bag to lie or lean on; a cushion...
2Old Englishbolsterpillow

Words derived from “bolster”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰōl- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰelǵʰ- →