Link Centre Dictionary

swab

UK/swɒb/ US/ˈswɑb/ fairly common slang
verb (2) noun (2)

verb

1.

wash with a swab or a mop

  • “swab the ship”
Synonyms
2.

apply (usually a liquid) to a surface

  • “dab the wall with paint”
Synonyms

noun

1.

implement consisting of a small piece of cotton that is used to apply medication or cleanse a wound or obtain a specimen of a secretion

2.

cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors

Synonyms

Origin

Mid 17th century (in the sense 'mop for cleaning the decks'): back-formation from Middle English swabber (“sailor detailed to swab decks”), from Middle Dutch zwabber, from a Germanic base meaning 'splash' or 'sway', also found as nautical German Schwabber and Volga German Schwabber ("scrubber, mop, swab")

Phrases

  • cotton swab
  • fire swab
  • swab hitch
  • swab jockey

Related words

Word family

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.