bolt

¹bolt

noun \ˈbōlt\

Definition of BOLT

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b : the part of a lock that is shot or withdrawn by the key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

Illustration of BOLT

Origin of BOLT

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Hardware Terms

adze, auger, awl, chock, ferrule, punch, tang

Rhymes with BOLT

colt, dolt, jolt, molt, poult, smolt, volt

²bolt

verb

Definition of BOLT

intransitive verb

1

: to move suddenly or nervously : start

2

: to move or proceed rapidly : dash

3

a : to dart off or away : flee

b : to break away from control or a set course

4

: to break away from or oppose one's previous affiliation (as with a political party or sports team)

5

: to produce seed prematurely

transitive verb

1

a archaic : shoot, discharge

b : flush, start <bolt rabbits>

2

: to say impulsively : blurt

3

: to secure with a bolt <bolt the door>

4

: to attach or fasten with bolts

5

: to eat hastily or without chewing <bolted his breakfast>

6

: to break away from or refuse to support (as a political party)

First Known Use of BOLT

13th century

³bolt

adverb

Definition of BOLT

1

: in an erect or straight-backed position : rigidly <sat bolt upright>

2

archaic : directly, straight

Examples of BOLT

1. She sat bolt upright, staring straight ahead.

First Known Use of BOLT

14th century

⁴bolt

noun

Definition of BOLT

: the act or an instance of bolting

First Known Use of BOLT

1550

⁵bolt

transitive verb

Definition of BOLT

1

: to sift (as flour) usually through fine-meshed cloth

2

archaic : sift 2

Origin of BOLT

Middle English bulten, from Anglo-French buleter, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German biuteln to sift, from biutel bag, from Old High German būtil

First Known Use: 13th century

bolt

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Mechanical fastener, usually used with a nut, for connecting two or more parts. Bolted joints can be readily disassembled and reassembled; hence bolts or screw fasteners are used more than other types of mechanical fastener. A bolt consists of a head and a cylindrical body with screw threads along a portion of its length. Nuts have internal (or female) threads to match those of the bolt. Washers are often used to prevent loosening and crushing.