I. ˈbōlt noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German bolz crossbow bolt, and perhaps to Lithuanian beldėti to beat
Date: before 12th century
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b. : the part of a lock that is shot or withdrawn by the key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
[
bolt 4
]
II. verb
Date: 13th century
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
bolt ed his breakfast
6. : to break away from or refuse to support (as a political party)
III. adverb
Date: 14th century
1. : in an erect or straight-backed position : rigidly
sat bolt upright
2. archaic : directly , straight
IV. noun
Date: 1550
: the act or an instance of bolting
V. transitive verb
Etymology: 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
Date: 13th century
1. : to sift (as flour) usually through fine-meshed cloth
2. archaic : sift 2