swab

Meanings

Plural: swabs

Noun

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
cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors
A small piece of soft, absorbent material, such as gauze, used to clean wounds, apply medicine, or take samples of body fluids. Often attached to a stick or wire to aid access.
A sample taken with a swab (piece of absorbent material).
A piece of material used for cleaning or sampling other items like musical instruments or guns.
A mop, especially on a ship.
A sailor; a swabby.
A naval officer's epaulet.

Verb

wash with a swab or a mop
- "swab the ship's decks"
apply (usually a liquid) to a surface
To use a swab on something, or clean something with a swab.

Origin / Etymology

Mid 17th century (in the sense 'mop for cleaning the decks'): back-formation from Middle English swabber (“sailor detailed to swab decks”), from Middle Dutch zwabber, from a Germanic base meaning 'splash' or 'sway', also found as nautical German Schwabber and Volga German Schwabber ("scrubber, mop, swab")

Synonyms

dab, mop, swabby, swob

Scrabble Score: 9

swab is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
swab is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
swab is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

swab is a valid Words With Friends word