swab

¹

[ swob ]

noun

1. a large mop used on shipboard for cleaning decks, living quarters, etc.
2. a bit of sponge, cloth, cotton, or the like, sometimes fixed to a stick, for cleansing the mouth of a sick person or for applying medicaments, drying areas, etc.
3. the material collected with a swab as a specimen for microscopic study.
4. a brush or wad of absorbent material for cleaning the bore of a firearm.
5. Slang. a sailor; swabby.
6. Slang. a clumsy fellow.

verb (used with object)

, swabbed, swab·bing.

1. to clean with or as if with a swab:

   to swab the decks.

2. to take up or apply, as moisture, with or as if with a swab:

   to swab soapy water from the decks.

3. to pass over a surface:

   to swab a mop over the decks.

Swab.

²

abbreviation for

1. Swabia.
2. Swabian.

swab

/ swɒb /

noun

1. med
   1. a small piece of cotton, gauze, etc, for use in applying medication, cleansing a wound, or obtaining a specimen of a secretion, etc
   2. the specimen so obtained
2. a mop for cleaning floors, decks, etc
3. a brush used to clean a firearm's bore
4. slang.
   an uncouth or worthless fellow

verb

1. tr to clean or medicate with or as if with a swab
2. trfoll byup to take up with a swab

Other Words From

• un·swabbed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of swab¹

First recorded in 1645–55; back formation from swabber

Word History and Origins

Origin of swab¹

C16: probably from Middle Dutch swabbe mop; related to Norwegian svabba to splash, Dutch zwabberen to mop, German schwappen to slop over

Example Sentences

Dr Charlotte Murphy said she analysed DNA swabs taken from Ms Hand's body and clothes after the alleged assault.

From BBC

When Ms Guy arrived she was shown into the salon where she said there “was blood splatter up the walls” and “gauze swabs lying around that had still got blood on from the previous person”.

From BBC

This year, biologists collected samples from nine sites in California, swabbing the diminutive animals’ noses and forearms, said Katrina Smith, statewide coordinator for small mammal conservation for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

From Los Angeles Times

They also conduct their own in-house testing, which can include extensive swabbing of surfaces, raw ingredients, finished products and areas where listeria is known to thrive, such as floor drains.

From Los Angeles Times

The market was closed and teams swabbed locations including stalls, the inside of animal cages and equipment used to strip fur and feathers from slaughtered animals.

From BBC

Related Words

• daub
• mop