Webster's English Dictionary

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bolt

1. bolt \'bo-lt\ n [ME, fr. OE; akin to OHG bolz crossbow, Lith belde.ti to 
   beat] 1a: a shaft or missile designed to be shot from a crossbow or 
   catapult;  esp : a short stout usu. blunt-headed arrow 1b: a lightning 
   stroke : THUNDERBOLT  2a: a wood or metal bar or rod used to fasten a door  
   2b: the part of a lock that is shot or withdrawn by the key  3a: a roll of 
   cloth of specified length  3b: a roll of wallpaper of specified length  4: 
   a metal rod or pin for fastening objects together that usu. has a head a t 
   one end and a screw thread at the other and is secured by a nut 5a: a block 
   of timber to be sawed or cut (as into shingles or staves)  5b: a short 
   round section of a log  6: the breech closure of a breech-loading rifle 
2. bolt vi 1: to move suddenly or nervously : START  2: to move rapidly : 
   DASH  3a: to dart off or away : FLEE  3b: to break away from control or off 
   a set course  4: to break away from or oppose one's political party  
   archaic  1a: SHOOT, DISCHARGE  1b: FLUSH, START {~ rabbits}  2: to say 
   impulsively : BLURT  3: to secure with a bolt  4: to attach or fasten with 
   bolts  5: to swallow hastily or without chewing  6: to break away from 
3. bolt av 1: in an erect position  archaic  2: DIRECTLY, STRAIGHT 
4. bolt n : an act of bolting 
5. bolt vt [ME bultan, fr. OF buleter, of Gmc origin; akin to MHG biutelnX 
   to sift, fr. biutel bag, fr. OHG bu-til 1: to sift (as flour) usu. through 
   fine-meshed cloth  archaic  2: SIFT