bolt

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See also Bolt, Bôłt, and bòlt

Contents

English[edit]

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Wikipedia

a fastening bolt
a door bolt
bolts of fabric

Pronunciation[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From Proto-Germanic *bultaz, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *bheld- (to knock, strike). Akin to Dutch bout, German Bolz or Bolzen, Icelandic bolti, Danish bolt.

Noun[edit]

bolt (plural bolts)

  1. A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw.
  2. A sliding pin or bar in a lock or latch mechanism.
  3. A bar of wood or metal dropped in horizontal hooks on a door and adjoining wall or between the two sides of a double door, to prevent the door(s) from being forced open.
  4. A sliding mechanism to chamber and unchamber a cartridge in a firearm.
  5. A shaft or missile intended to be shot from a crossbow or a catapult, especially a short, stout arrow.
  6. A lightning spark, i.e., a lightning bolt.
  7. A sudden event, action or emotion.
    The problem's solution struck him like a bolt from the blue.
    • 1994, Stephen Fry, The Hippopotamus Chapter 2
      With a bolt of fright he remembered that there was no bathroom in the Hobhouse Room. He leapt along the corridor in a panic, stopping by the long-case clock at the end where he flattened himself against the wall.
  8. A large roll of fabric or similar material, as a bolt of cloth.
    • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, chapter 20
      Not only were the old sails being mended, but new sails were coming on board, and bolts of canvas, and coils of rigging; in short, everything betokened that the ship’s preparations were hurrying to a close.
  9. (nautical) The standard linear measurement of canvas for use at sea: 39 yards.
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
See also[edit]

Verb[edit]

bolt (third-person singular simple present bolts, present participle bolting, simple past and past participle bolted)

  1. To connect or assemble pieces using a bolt.
    Bolt the vice to the bench.
  2. To secure a door by locking or barring it.
    Bolt the door.
    • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, chapter 24
      If that double-bolted land, Japan, is ever to become hospitable, it is the whale-ship alone to whom the credit will be due; for already she is on the threshold.
  3. (intransitive) To flee, to depart, to accelerate suddenly.
    Seeing the snake, the horse bolted.
    The actor forgot his line and bolted from the stage.
  4. (intransitive) To escape.
  5. (intransitive) Of a plant, to grow quickly; to go to seed.
    Lettuce and spinach will bolt as the weather warms up.
  6. To swallow food without chewing it.
    • 1859 Darwin, Charles, On the Origin of Species, ch 11, p 362:
      Some hawks and owls bolt their prey whole, and after an interval of from twelve to twenty hours disgorge pellets.
  7. To drink one's drink very quickly; to down a drink.
    Come on, everyone, bolt your drinks; I want to go to the next pub!
  8. To sift the bran and germ from wheat flour.
    Graham flour is unbolted flour.
Translations[edit]
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Etymology 2[edit]

From Middle English bulten, from Anglo-Norman buleter, cognate with Middle High German biuteln (to sift)

Verb[edit]

bolt (third-person singular simple present bolts, present participle bolting, simple past and past participle bolted)

  1. To sift, especially through a cloth.
Derived terms[edit]

Noun[edit]

bolt (plural bolts)

  1. A sieve, especially a long fine sieve used in milling for bolting flour and meal; a bolter.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Ben Jonson to this entry?)

Anagrams[edit]


Hungarian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From the Italian volta (vault).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA: /ˈbolt/

Noun[edit]

bolt (plural boltok)

  1. shop
  2. vault

Declension[edit]

Synonyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]