n., v., & adv.
—n.
1 a sliding bar and socket used to fasten or lock a door, gate, etc.
2 a large usu. metal pin with a head, usu. riveted or used with a nut, to hold things together.
3 a discharge of lightning.
4 an act of bolting (cf. sense 4 of v.); a sudden escape or dash for freedom.
5 hist. an arrow for shooting from a crossbow.
6 a roll of fabric (orig. as a measure).
—v.
1 tr. fasten or lock with a bolt.
2 tr. (foll. by in, out) keep (a person etc.) from leaving or entering by bolting a door.
3 tr. fasten together with bolts.
4 intr. a dash suddenly away, esp. to escape. b (of a horse) suddenly gallop out of control.
5 tr. gulp down (food) unchewed; eat hurriedly.
6 intr. (of a plant) run to seed.
—adv. (usu. in bolt upright) rigidly, stiffly.
Phrases and idioms:
a bolt from the blue a complete surprise. bolt-hole
1 a means of escape.
2 a secret refuge. shoot one's bolt do all that is in one's power.
Derivatives:
bolter n. (in sense 4 of v.).
Etymology: OE bolt arrow
2.
v.tr. (also boult) sift (flour etc.).
Derivatives:
bolter n.
Etymology: ME f. OF bulter, buleter, of unkn. orig.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.