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swabbing

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
swab also swob  (swb)
n.
1.
a. A small piece of absorbent material attached to the end of a stick or wire and used for cleansing or applying medicine.
b. A specimen of mucus or other material removed with a swab.
2. A sponge or patch of absorbent material used to clean the bore of a firearm or cannon.
3. A mop used for cleaning floors or decks.
4. Slang A sailor.
5. Slang A lout.
tr.v. swabbed also swobbed, swab·bing also swob·bing, swabs also swobs
1. To use a swab on.
2. To clean with a swab.
[Back-formation from swabber, mop for a ship's deck (from obsolete Dutch *zwabber, from zwabben, to mop) or from obsolete Dutch swabbe, mop (from Middle Dutch).]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.swabbingswabbing - cleaning with a mop; "he gave it a good mopping"
mopping
scrubbing, scouring, scrub - the act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
While the glowing enthusiast was swabbing the perspiration from his face, I said:
A Tramp Abroad by Twain, Mark View in context
He was a "squeedgie" man; his job was to go about all day with a long-handled mop, swabbing up the floor.
The Jungle by Sinclair, Upton View in context
Harvey looked up from his swabbing at the bottom of another dory just above his head.
Captains Courageous by Kipling, Rudyard View in context
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