Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BOWSTER, Bolster, Buster, n.2 “That part of a miln in which the axletree moves” (Sc. 1808 Jam. s.v. bolster; Bnff.2 1935, bowster; Abd. 1898 E.D.D. s.v. bolster). Bolster has this meaning also in Eng. dial.
Comb.: †buster-head, “a wooden beam along the back wall of the substructure of a water-mill, serving as a support for the innermost end of the ground-sill, into which the axle of the mill is fitted . . . also used of the actual joint of the two beams” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
[O.Sc. bouster, bowster, buster, a bearing for a wheel-shaft (D.O.S.T.), variants of bolster. A specific use of Bowster,n.1, v.]
