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 : thunderbolt
2 a : a wood or metal bar or rod used to fasten a door b : the part of a lock that is shot or withdrawn by the key
3 : a roll of cloth or wallpaper of specified length
4 : 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 nut
5 a : a block of timber to be sawed or cut b : a short round section of a log
6 : 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]