bolt

bolt

bolt¹ [bōlt]

n.

[ME & OE, akin to Ger bolzen < IE base * bheld-, to knock, strike]

1. a short, heavy, often blunt arrow shot from a crossbow

2. a flash of lightning; thunderbolt

3. a sudden dash or movement

4. a sliding bar for locking a door, gate, etc.

5. a similar bar in a lock, moved by a key

6. a threaded metal rod or pin for joining parts, having a head and usually used with a nut

7. a roll (of cloth, paper, etc.) of a given length

8. a jet or column (of some liquid)

☆ 9. a bolting or withdrawal from one's party or group

10. Firearms a sliding bar that pushes the cartridge into place, closes the breech, and extracts the empty cartridge case after firing

vt.

1. Archaic to shoot (an arrow, etc.)

2. to say suddenly or unexpectedly; blurt (out)

3. to swallow (food) hurriedly; gulp down

4. to hold together or fasten with or as with a bolt

5. to roll (cloth, etc.) into bolts

☆ 6. to withdraw support from or abandon (a party, group, etc.)

vi.

1. to dash out suddenly; spring; dart

2. to start suddenly and run away, as a horse

☆ 3. to withdraw support from or abandon a party, group, etc.

4. Hort. to produce seed prematurely

——————

bolt from the blue

1. a thunderbolt from a clear sky

2. a sudden, unforeseen occurrence, often an unfortunate one

——————

bolt upright

straight up; erect or erectly

——————

shoot one's bolt

to do one's utmost; exhaust one's capabilities

bolt² [bōlt]

vt.

[ME bulten < OFr buleter, ? dissimilated < * bureter < bure (< VL * bura), coarse cloth; akin to It burattare < buratto, sieve]

1. to sift (flour, grain, etc.) so as to separate and grade

2. Archaic to inspect and separate, as good from bad; examine closely