bolt

play

noun \ˈbōlt\

Definition of bolt

1a : a shaft or missile designed to be shot from a crossbow or catapult; especially : a short stout usually blunt-headed arrowb : a lightning stroke; also : thunderbolt
2a : a wood or metal bar or rod used to fasten a doorb : the part of a lock that is shot or withdrawn by the key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
5a : a block of timber to be sawed or cutb : 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 and Etymology of bolt

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

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First Known Use: before 12th century

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Other Hardware Terms

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

bolt

verb

Definition of bolt

intransitive verb
1 : to move suddenly or nervously : start
2 : to move or proceed rapidly : dash
3a : to dart off or away : fleeb : 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
1a archaic : shoot, dischargeb : 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 (something, such as a political party)

First Known Use of bolt

13th century

bolt

adverb

Definition of bolt

1 : in an erect or straight-backed position : rigidly sat bolt upright
2 archaic : directly, straight

See bolt defined for English-language learners

Examples of bolt in a Sentence

She sat bolt upright, staring straight ahead.

First Known Use of bolt

15th century

bolt

noun

Definition of bolt

: the act or an instance of bolting

First Known Use of bolt

1577

bolt

verb

Definition of bolt

transitive verb
1 : to sift usually through fine-meshed cloth bolt flour
2 archaic : sift 2

Origin and Etymology 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

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First Known Use: 13th century

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BOLT Defined for English Language Learners

bolt

adverb

Definition of bolt for English Language Learners

: with the back in a very straight position

BOLT Defined for Kids

bolt

play

noun \ˈbōlt\

Definition of bolt for Students

1 : a stroke of lightning : thunderbolt
2 : a sliding bar used to fasten a door
3 : the part of a lock worked by a key
4 : a metal pin or rod with a head at one end and a screw thread at the other that is used to hold something in place
5 : a roll of cloth or wallpaper