~ 1
■ noun
1》 a long pin with a head that screws into a nut, used to fasten things together.
↘a bar that slides into a socket to fasten a door or window.
↘the sliding piece of the breech mechanism of a rifle.
2》 a short, heavy arrow shot from a crossbow.
3》 a flash of lightning across the sky.
■ verb fasten with a ~.
Phrases
a ~ from (or out of ) the blue a sudden and unexpected event.
~ upright with the back very straight.
have shot one's ~ informal have done everything possible but still not succeeded.
Origin
OE: of unknown origin.
————————
~ 2
■ verb
1》 run away suddenly.
↘(in hunting) cause (a rabbit or fox) to run out of its burrow or hole.
2》 (of a plant) grow quickly upwards and stop flowering as seeds develop.
3》 eat (food) quickly.
Phrases
make a ~ for try to escape by running suddenly towards.
Derivatives
~er noun
Origin
ME: from ~ 1 , expressing the sense 'fly like an arrow'.
————————
~ 3
■ noun
1》 a roll of fabric, originally as a measure.
2》 a folded edge of a piece of paper that is trimmed off to allow it to be opened.
Origin
ME: transferred use of ~ 1 .
————————
~ 4
(also boult )
■ verb archaic pass through a sieve.
Origin
ME: from OFr. bulter .