swab

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noun \ˈswäb\

Simple Definition of swab

: a small piece of soft material sometimes on the end of a small stick that is used for applying medicine, cleaning a wound, etc.
: a small amount of material taken with a swab as a sample from a person's body

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

1a : mop; especially : a yarn mopb (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 swabc : a sponge or cloth patch attached to a long handle and used to clean the bore of a firearm
2a : a useless or contemptible personb : sailor, gob

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

First Known Use: 1653

transitive verb

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

back-formation from swabber

First Known Use: 1719

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noun \ˈswäb\

1 : a yarn mop especially as used on a ship
2 : a wad of absorbent material usually wound around the end of a small stick and used for applying or removing material (as medicine or makeup)

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verb

1 : to clean with or as if with a mop <A boy swabbed the ship's deck.>
2 : to apply medication to with a wad of absorbent material <A nurse swabbed the wound with iodine.>

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noun \ˈswäb\

1: a wad of absorbent material usually wound around one end of a small stick and used for applying medication or for removing material from an area
2: a specimen taken with a swab <a throat swab>