upholster

/əˈpɒl.stə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Back-formation from upholsterer (“tradesman who finishes furniture”), from Middle English upholdester, variant of Middle English upholder (“dealer in small goods”), from upholden (“to repair, uphold”); equivalent to uphold + -ster. Sense development as well as form may have been influenced by conflation with unrelated bolster.

upholster means to fit padding, stuffing, springs, webbing and fabric covering to (furniture). Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 89 out of 100.

verb

To fit padding, stuffing, springs, webbing and fabric covering to (furniture).

noun

An upholder, a dealer in secondhand furniture and clothes; an upholsterer; a tradesman who finishes furniture.