Bolt

Pronunciation

 * or
 * or

Etymology 1
From, perhaps from. Akin to Dutch bout:, German Bolz:/Bolzen:, Icelandic bolti:, Danish bolt:.

Noun

 * 1) A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw.
 * 2) A sliding pin or bar in a lock or latch mechanism.
 * 3) * 1908: Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
 * There was the noise of a bolt shot back, and the door opened a few inches, enough to show a long snout and a pair of sleepy blinking eyes.
 * 1) A bar of wood or metal dropped in horizontal hooks on a door and adjoining wall or between the two sides of a double door, to prevent the door(s) from being forced open.
 * 2) A sliding mechanism to chamber and unchamber a cartridge in a firearm.
 * 3) A shaft or missile intended to be shot from a crossbow or a catapult, especially a short, stout arrow.
 * 4) A lightning spark, i.e., a lightning bolt.
 * 5) A sudden event.
 * The problem's solution struck him like a bolt from the blue.
 * 1) A large roll of fabric or similar material, as a bolt of cloth.
 * 2)  The standard linear measurement of canvas for use at sea: 39 yards.

Derived terms

 * bolthole
 * bolt from the blue, bolt out of the blue
 * bolt thrower


 * thunderbolt
 * bolt action
 * shoot one's bolt
 * bolt-on

Verb

 * 1) To connect or assemble pieces using a bolt.
 * Bolt the vice to the bench.
 * 1) To secure a door by locking or barring it.
 *  Bolt the door.
 * 1)  To flee, to depart, to accelerate suddenly.
 * Seeing the snake, the horse bolted.
 * The actor forgot his line and bolted from the stage.
 * 1)  To escape.
 * 2)  Of a plant, to grow quickly; to go to seed.
 * Lettuce and spinach will bolt as the weather warms up.
 * 1) To swallow food without chewing it.
 * 2) * 1859 Darwin, Charles, On the Origin of Species, ch 11, p 362:
 * Some hawks and owls bolt their prey whole, and after an interval of from twelve to twenty hours disgorge pellets.
 * 1) To drink one's drink very quickly; to down a drink.
 * Come on everyone - bolt your drinks; I want to go to the next pub!
 * 1) To sift the bran and germ from wheat flour.
 * Graham flour is unbolted flour.

Etymology 2
From bulten:, from  buleter:, cognate with  biuteln:

Verb

 * 1) To sift, especially through a cloth.

Derived terms

 * unbolted

Adverbs for Bolt
hungrily; avidly; ferociously; grossly; hoggishly; brutishly; barbarously; unrestrainedly; sottishly; permanently.

Thesaurus
AWOL, French leave, Irish confetti, Jupiter Fulgur, Thor, abscond, absence without leave, absquatulate, absquatulation, apostacize, apostasy, apostatize, arrow, arrowhead, articulate, assort, attach, backsliding, bale, ball lightning, bang, bar, barb, barricade, barrier, batten, batten down, beat a retreat, betray, betrayal, bindle, blat, block, block up, blockade, blow, blurt out, bobtailed arrow, boil, bola, bolt down, bolt of lightning, bolt upright, bomb, bombshell, boomerang, bouquet, break away, breakaway, brickbat, buckle, budget, bundle, burn out, butt, button, button up, career, catch, categorize, chain lightning, change sides, charge, chase, chested arrow, chock, choke, choke off, clap, clarify, clasp, classify, clear, clear out, cleat, clip, close, close off, close tight, close up, cloth yard shaft, coil, collate, connect, constrict, contain, contract, cordon, cordon off, countermissile, cover, cram, crowd, cry out, cull out, cut and run, dark lightning, dart, dash, dash off, debar, decamp, decampment, deck, decrassify, defect, defection, depart, depurate, dereliction, desert, deserter, desertion, devour, disappearance, disappearing act, disloyalty, distill, divide, dog, dovetail, edulcorate, ejaculate, elope, elopement, elute, engorge, erect, escape, essentialize, exit, extract, eye-opener, fagot, faithlessness, fall away, fall off, fardel, fasces, fascine, fasten, filter, filtrate, fireball, firebolt, fix, flee, flight, fling, fly, flying flame, fold, fold up, forked lightning, fugitate, fugitation, fulguration, fulmination, ghettoize, gluttonize, go AWOL, go over, gobble, going over, gorge, gormandize, gradate, grade, group, gulp, gulp down, guttle, guzzle, hasp, haste, hasten, hasty retreat, hegira, hie, hinge, hitch, hook, hump, hump it, hurry, hurtle, ingurgitate, insulate, jam, joint, jump, jump bail, keep apart, keep aside, key, lash, latch, lay aside, leach, length, let down, levant, levin bolt, lightning, live to eat, lixiviate, lock, lock out, lock up, make haste, make off, missile, miter, mortise, nail, nosegay, oak-cleaving thunderbolts, obstruct, occlude, pack, package, packet, padlock, parcel, part, peg, percolate, pick out, piece, pin, plumb, poop out, portion, post, posy, projectile, pull out, purify, put aside, quarantine, quarrel, quick exit, quiver, rabbet, race, rank, rat, ratting, raven, recidivation, recidivism, recreancy, rectify, reed, refine, revelation, riddle, rigidly, rivet, rock, rocket, rod, roll, rouleau, run, run away, run away from, run away with, run for it, run off, run out on, running away, rush, scamper, scarf, schism, scoot, scour, scram, scramble, scramming, screen, screw, scud, scurry, scuttle, seal, seal off, seal up, secede, secession, seclude, secure, segregate, sell out, separate, set apart, set aside, sew, shaft, sheaf, sheet lightning, shock, shocker, shoot, show the heels, shut, shut off, shut out, shut the door, shut tight, shut up, sieve, sift, size, skedaddle, skedaddling, skewer, skip, skip out, slam, slip the cable, slop, slosh, snap, sort, sort out, spiritualize, spring, squeeze, squeeze shut, staple, startle, step on it, stick, stiffly, stifle, stitch, stone, stop up, straight, strain, strangle, strangulate, strip, stroke of lightning, stuff, sublimate, sublime, subordinate, suffocate, surprise, swallow whole, switch, switch over, tack, take French leave, take flight, take to flight, take wing, tear, thrash, thresh, throw stick, throwing-stick, thunderball, thunderbolt, thunderstroke, toggle, torpedo, treason, truss, try, turn cloak, turn tail, turning traitor, volley, waddy, walkout, wedge, winnow, wolf, wolf down, zip up, zipper