swab

¹swab

noun \ˈswäb\

Definition of SWAB

1

a : mop; especially : a yarn mop b (1) : a wad of absorbent material usually wound around one end of a small stick and used especially for applying medication or for removing material from an area (2) : a specimen taken with a swab c : a sponge or cloth patch attached to a long handle and used to clean the bore of a firearm

2

a : a useless or contemptible person b : sailor, gob

Examples of SWAB

1. Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to disinfect the area.
2. The doctor took a throat swab and sent it to the lab.

Origin of SWAB

probably from obsolete Dutch swabbe; akin to Low German swabber mop

First Known Use: 1653

Related to SWAB

Synonyms: gob, hearty, jack, jack-tar, mariner, navigator, salt, sea dog, seafarer, seaman, shipman, sailor, swabbie (also swabby) [slang], tar

Related Words: coxswain, crewman, deckhand, shipmate; able-bodied seaman, able seaman, lubber; powerboater, sailboater; lime-juicer [slang], limey [slang]

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Rhymes with SWAB

Ab, blob, bob, cob, daub, fob, glob, gob, hob, job, knob, lob, mob, nob, rob, slob, snob, sob, squab, stob, throb, yob