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swab
(redirected from swobbing)

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia 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.
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).]

swab [swɒb]
n
1. (Medicine) Med
a.  a small piece of cotton, gauze, etc., for use in applying medication, cleansing a wound, or obtaining a specimen of a secretion, etc.
b.  the specimen so obtained
2. (Engineering / Tools) a mop for cleaning floors, decks, etc.
3. (Military / Firearms, Gunnery, Ordnance & Artillery) a brush used to clean a firearm's bore
4. Slang an uncouth or worthless fellow
vb swabs, swabbing, swabbed
1. (Medicine) (tr) to clean or medicate with or as if with a swab
2. (tr; foll by up) to take up with a swab
[probably from Middle Dutch swabbe mop; related to Norwegian svabba to splash, Dutch zwabberen to mop, German schwappen to slop over]

swab - As in "mop the decks," it is a back-formation from swabber, "sailor who mops the decks," from a Germanic base meaning "splash."
See also related terms for splash.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.swab - implement consisting of a small piece of cotton that is used to apply medication or cleanse a wound or obtain a specimen of a secretionswab - implement consisting of a small piece of cotton that is used to apply medication or cleanse a wound or obtain a specimen of a secretion
implement - instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end
2.swab - cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handleswab - cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors
cleaning device, cleaning equipment, cleaning implement - any of a large class of implements used for cleaning
dry mop, dust mop, dustmop - a dry swab for dusting floors
mop handle - the handle of a mop
sponge mop - a wet mop with a sponge as the absorbent
Verb1.swab - wash with a swab or a mop; "swab the ship's decks"
mop, mop up, wipe up - to wash or wipe with or as if with a mop; "Mop the hallway now"; "He mopped her forehead with a towel"
2.swab - apply (usually a liquid) to a surface; "dab the wall with paint"
apply, put on - apply to a surface; "She applied paint to the back of the house"; "Put on make-up!"
Translations
swab [swɒb]
A. N
1. (= cloth, mop) → estropajo m, trapo m
2. (Naut) → lampazo m
3. (Med) (for cleaning wound) → algodón m, tampón m; (for specimen) → frotis m
B. VT
1. (Naut) (also swab down) → limpiar, fregar
2. (Med) [+ wound] → limpiar(con algodón)
swab [ˈswɒb]
n
(MEDICINE) (= cotton wool) → tampon m
(MEDICINE) (= sample) → prélèvement m
vt
(also swab down) [+ deck, floor] → nettoyer
swab
n
(Med) → Tupfer m; (= specimen)Abstrich m; to take a swabeinen Abstrich machen
(Naut) → Mop m
vt
(Med) wound etc(ab)tupfen
(Naut: also swab down) → wischen
swab [swɒb]
1. n (Med) (for cleaning wound, for specimen) → tampone m
2. vt (Naut) (also swab down) → redazzare


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