Main Entry:

¹bolt

Pronunciation:

\ˈbōlt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German bolz crossbow bolt, and perhaps to Lithuanian beldėti to beat

Date:

before 12th century

1 a: a shaft or missile designed to be shot from a crossbow or catapult ; especially : a short stout usually blunt-headed arrow b: a lightning stroke ; also : thunderbolt2 a: a wood or metal bar or rod used to fasten a door b: the part of a lock that is shot or withdrawn by the key3: a roll of cloth or wallpaper of specified length4: a metal rod or pin for fastening objects together that usually has a head at one end and a screw thread at the other and is secured by a nut5 a: a block of timber to be sawed or cut b: a short round section of a log6: a metal cylinder that drives the cartridge into the chamber of a firearm, locks the breech, and usually contains the firing pin and extractor

[bolt illustration]