swab also swob (sw b)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. 3. To take a specimen from (a person) using 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).] |
swabbing - cleaning with a mop; "he gave it a good mopping"Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.
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