upˈholstered, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ed.]
a. Furnished or fitted with upholsterer's work.
| 1837 Carlyle Misc. (1840) V. 167 Farewell, thou old Château, with thy upholstered rooms. 1866 Lond. Rev. 6 Jan. 4/1 Sofa-divans, and..arm-chairs all comfortably upholstered with national colours. 1889 Mrs. E. Kennard Landing a Prize i, The drawing-room [is] rosewood, upholstered in red damask. |
b. fig. and transf. Esp. of persons (euphemistically): (well-)dressed; plump, stocky. See also well-upholstered ppl. a.
| 1892 W. H. Mallock Human Document xviii, Considered by others as an article essential to a decorously upholstered mind. 1924 Wodehouse Leave it to Psmith iii. 60 This sumptuously upholstered young woman. 1929 D. H. Lawrence Pansies 31 The upholstered dead that sit in deep arm-chairs. 1958 S. J. Perelman Most of S. J. Perelman 21 Where are those big, jolly, upholstered girls one used to see? 1976 R. Lehmann Sea-Grape Tree 6 British travellers..stoutly upholstered middle-aged couples from the Midlands. |